Non-Government organisations in Lautoka and Nadi are calling on Government to deliver food rations to Fijians in the two centres.

Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises and Development (FRIEND) Fiji director Sashi Kiran said while they appreciated Government’s assistance to Fijians caught off-guard by the 56-hour lockdown in Suva and Nausori, they were disappointed there was still no assistance for families in isolation.

“We woke up to a 24-hour curfew in Lautoka and Nadi on day one of the Lautoka and Nadi containment and that also included shops being closed for the day so people did not have time to go out and get their supplies,” she said.

“We had families who were told to go into isolation. Some of them have been in isolation since the lockdown, and this is the third week.

“What is being done for them?

“We have about 200 families currently in isolation within their homes and they have run out of food.

“How are they supposed to sustain themselves when they can’t even step out to get supplies?”

She said the foundation had been inundated with requests for food.

“We have families that have been starving from last year, and so many of them have no other source of income. Lautoka Residents and Ratepayers Association acting president Narayan Reddy added it was a dire situation for some families.

“Just yesterday, we had to deliver food to a home with six people and they literally had no food in the house.”