“Au sa karamaca, kerekere au via gunu wai” (I am thirsty, please I want to drink water).
Residents of Naivikinikini settlement in Lami claim this is usually the scene in some homes every day as children begged parents for water to quench their thirst.
The informal settlement continues to face water cuts on a daily basis.
Among the residents was visually impaired grandfather Laikini Vasukiwai.
The 67-year-old said because of this problem, his grandchildren had suffered health problems.
“Keimami qai dau yadra mai na mataka lailai, sa sega tu na wai (There is no water every day when we wake up in the morning),” the senior citizen said.
“So na gauna o ratou na makubuqu dau tagica na wai ena levu ni nodratou karamaca, qai dau maca tu na wai (Many times my grandchildren cry for water because they are thirsty and we can’t do much because of the water cuts).”
He said the faces of his grandchildren would light up once they saw taps running after days without water.
Mr Vasukiwai claimed for years, some parents had had no other choice but to fetch drinking water from an untreated water source in another settlement for their children.
Last month, he said the settlement was without water for five days.
Another parent Sureti Aditukana, 32, said her children’s health was at risk because of inconsistent water supply in the area.
“At least they should think of our children and it’s sad to see them crying for water every day because they are thirsty,” she said.
“Right now, we really don’t know what else to do just to make them understand our problem.”
Questions on the health implications on children who do not drink adequate water were also sent to the Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete on June 10.
