3 Nov 2015

Over 67,000 affected by drought in Fiji

1:39 pm on 3 November 2015

Villagers in Fiji's Northern and Western division are calling on the government for help with water supplies, as the disaster management office deals with over 67,000 people affected by drought.

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Photo: 123rf

The Principal Disaster Management Officer, Sunia Ratulevu, says water trucks and tanks have been sent to the worst-affected places.

The remote Yasawa Island group has received water from visiting ships.

Mr Ratulevu says despite a tropical depression some weeks ago, there was not enough sustained rain to provide the necessary relief.

"But not really any major impact on the drought situation that we have, but it did give us a slight relief. We are still monitoring the situation and we will respond to any immediate need that arises and we still have the capacity to do that."

Mr Ratulevu says his office stands ready to help communities cope with El Niño.