The Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar has assured assistance to the two families who lost their home in a fire yesterday.

Earlier today, Minister Akbar was accompanied by a team of Welfare Officers to meet the affected families, whereby she committed the assistance of her Ministry.

Mr Peni Bari and Viniana Adinaulu lost all their possessions to a fire incident that occurred in Jittu Estate.

“Our aim is to provide immediate relief. We also understand that Mr Peni Bari is living with his 50 year old daughter and Ms Viniana Adinaulu was staying with her parents and her child. By providing Government assistance in such cases, we are doing our best to ease the family’s burden and offer comfort. We will look at all aspects and assist the families accordingly,” Minister Akbar said.

“Mr Bari will be assisted with the Government-funded Fire Insurance claim as he is a beneficiary of the Social Pension Scheme. The other family is not on any of the Welfare schemes, hence, they qualify to be assisted with the Fire Relief Assistance under my Ministry,” she added.

76 year old Bari, thanked Minister Akbar for her timely visit. “Her visit brings relief to our family, we have requested if she can provide food and other immediate basic needs for our family. We acknowledge her presence and words of encouragement.”

The Fire Authority and Fiji Police Force are preparing a report on the incident and they are working closely with the Department of Social Welfare which will aid the insurance applications for both the families.

Minister Akbar has also provided immediate food supplies to Mr Bari as per his request this morning.

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