Basic food items of flour, rice, dhal, milk, oil, tea, breakfast crackers and tin fish make up the food package being supplied for free by Government to families in the Suva-Nausori corridor.
A family in Tamavua sent Mai TV a photograph of the food pack they received after they called 161 this morning.
After being asked their address and the reason for their seeking assistance the family were delivered:
- One powder milk 300g
- Soya bean Oil 500ml
- 4gk flour
- 4 x 424 g pacific ocean tin fish in tomato sauce
- 1 Punjas tea 100g
- 2 Punjas breakfast crackers 375g
- Punjas yellow split peas 1kg
- 10kg Premium Long Grain Rice
The food pack was delivered to them at around 2 pm today. The Government is urging people to call 161 if they need food rations to last them through the lockdown curfew period which ends at 4 am on Monday.
This afternoon, Goverment advised that they are dealing with a large call volume and if calls to 161 do not get answered, Fijians are alternatively requested to email their details to this email address: covid19rations@gmail.com. The request must include the following details: your name, address, Suva-Nausori Lockdown Zone, mobile number and number of household members. The food packs are being distributed from the Fiji Procurement Office yard in Walu Bay.
There was a delay in the calls to 161 getting through this morning – the Permanent Secretary for Health Dr James Fong advised Mai TV that the line crashed from last night. It was fixed and calls started to get through from 10 am although some issues continue to be experienced with people getting through due to the sheer volume of calls. The Fiji Government has confirmed that a large number of calls are already getting through.
National Federation Party MP Lenora Qereqeretabua has also called on Government to make provisions and ensure that relief facilities consider people living with disabilities and make the 161 line accessible to text.
Food packages deliveries continue this afternoon and food package sizes will range depending on the number in one household. Those who call are advised to give their location and the number of people in their households
