SOME students from the Bulileka and Boubale areas in Labasa have missed at least three days of school because of ongoing water cuts in the area.
Hundreds of residents have been affected and those who spoke to The Fiji Times said some had been forced to rely on nearby water sources for drinking, bathing, and washing.
Bulileka resident Arieta Watikona said her family was not prepared for the water cut as there was no advisory from relevant authorities.
“Until to date there’s nothing been advised to us on the reason for the closure of water,” she said.
Ms Watikona said they continuously checked the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) Facebook page for updates but nothing, priority on the page was given to those living on Viti Levu rather than the North.
“Students going to school are using at least a jug of water just to bathe.”
Advisory councillor for Boubale, Bindesh Chand, said water shortage had been a long-standing issue in the community.
“We are at the end of the government water supply area, so we often have to buy water from shops or use water tanks,” he said.
Because of the water crisis they face, Mr Chand said WAF had previously discussed providing additional tanks, but when residents went to check, they were told there were none available.
“This is a constant issue we face but the government has done nothing to address the issue.”
The lack of clean water has raised health concerns, as residents fear an increase in dengue cases, especially with a recent spike in infections in nearby Bua.
“Despite our struggles, no government ministers had visited the area to address our concerns.”
Questions sent to the Water Authority of Fiji on this matter remain unanswered.
Arieta Watikona washing her clothes at a nearby water source in Bulileka as the area had been facing water cuts for the past three days. Inset: Women and children of Bulileka taking their buckets to a nearby stream to bathe and wash their clothes.
Pictures: NACANIELI TUILEVUKA
