While most Fijians had warm beds and food to weather the snap COVID-19 Suva-Nausori lockdown over the weekend, some had no option but to make the best of their situation on the streets of the Capital City.
Sisa Ledua, a street dweller for more than a decade, said they masked up with the protection provided by generous donors and took heed of the advice from authorities.
“We have nowhere else to go so the police just told us to stay where we are and not move about,” the 60-year-old said.
When a team from this newspaper caught up with Mr Ledua, he was among a group of 10 people resting on the sidewalk near the junction of Pratt St and Renwick Rd.
“We usually sleep here at night and disperse in the day to look for food, but because of this lockdown, we’ve been told to remain here throughout the weekend.”
The Waimaro, Naitasiri native said they were lucky that good Samaritans gave food items on Saturday during the lockdown.
Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr James Fong acknowledged the Psychiatric Survivors Association (PSA) for helping them feed and screen the homeless.
“Not everyone has a home to stay in, but everyone deserves to have their health taken seriously.
So thank you, PSA,” he said during a news conference on Saturday.
