NAQALOTU villagers in Tavuki, Kadavu, are using seawater as a substitute for salt.
Village elder Etuate Nagata said they ran out of salt two weeks ago.
“We are now fetching seawater and adding it to our meals,” he said.
Mr Nagata said the cost of road transport to shops in Vunisea was about $130 and hiring a fibreglass boat was $90.
“It’s expensive for us to just go to Vunisea to buy salt, and if we have to go to Suva then that’s a whole lot more.”
Mr Nagata said they were also running out of sugar.
He said there were no root crops left in their farms.
Mr Nagata said rations provided by Government would only last them a couple of weeks.
“All our cassava and dalo plantations were destroyed by Tropical Cyclone Harold and the only thing we are depending on now is the rations from Government.
“For some big families, I believe their rations won’t last them.
“We have very little sugar left and if that finishes then we might have to go without sugar.
“Our ration only had rice, flour and other items but not sugar or salt which we use every day.” TC Harold hit Kadavu on April 8.
