2 Apr 2013

Islands in Fiji's Lau group running out of basic supplies

4:11 pm on 2 April 2013

The head of a village in the Lau Group in Fiji says the island has run out of basic supplies because the ship that normally services the area has been out of commission.

Waiqori village headman Peni Koto says the MV Lady Sandy normally services Oneata, Lakeba, Fulaga, Kabara, and Moce every month, but it's been two and half months since its last visit.

He says people have run out of basic groceries on Oneata and they're starting to get desperate.

"No sugar, no flour, no rice, no mosquito coils, no fuel to cut our grass, no fuel for the fiberglass boat for going diving, and the other things we need in the islands, is no more now."

Peni Koto says teachers and nurses also haven't received their salaries as a result.

He says he's called the company and the owner hopes the ship will be able to return in the next week or two.