A direct funding agreement worth $35 million was signed between Australia and Fiji yesterday.
Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said $31 million of the funds would be allocated to the poverty benefit scheme.
“Of the $A22.5 million ($F35.3 million) support, $A20 million ($F31 million) would go specifically to the social welfare support and the funding that has been already allocated to it would be used for other areas such as some of the expenses that we did not anticipate, for example the cyclone expenses — so we’ll be able to meet that expenses and other general budget support,” he said.
Of the $35 million provided, $31 million would be allocated for the social welfare payments while $4 million would be added to the budget support.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the support provided was critically important and would assist the people affected by Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold and TC Yasa.
Australia’s acting High Commissioner to Fiji Anna Dorney said the support would help Fiji address some of the social and economic implications.
“These funds will be used to support social welfare payments through the Government of Fiji’s poverty benefits scheme, care and protection allowance and disability allowance,” she said.
“Fiji has always recognised vulnerable people as critical to development, and this is particularly important as the implications of COVID-19 has unfortunately further compounded this year by the impacts of TC Harold and TC Yasa.”
