Matelita was overwhelmed with emotion when our ADRA team arrived at her door with an emergency food pack.

Living in a rural community in Fiji, Matelita (80) has been struggling during the country-wide lockdowns implemented due to the growing cases of COVID-19.

Throughout June there have been up to 800 new cases per day in Fiji. A nation-wide lockdown has been implemented to stop the spread. However, people who are already in need of support are feeling more isolated than ever.

Matelita lives alone and depends on monthly social welfare assistance for survival. With the high cost of living, Matelita’s budget is already stretched thin.

The restriction in movement and the hardship currently experienced during this crisis has prevented her from going to visit her children or having her children visit her.

“What lies ahead is uncertain, but every day is dedicated to praying seeking God’s intervention and thanking him for good health for being able to survive each day,” Matelita shared.

“I am grateful to ADRA for thinking of us, especially a widow like me, an elderly who is in need. My prayers have been answered.”

Matelita is not the only woman who needed urgent support. Our ADRA team shared that seven other households they visited had very little or no food at home when they arrived.

Emele, another member of the community shared her experience of the lockdown, “I’ve been living in this area for the past 14 years and I am aware of the backbone of these families. The pandemic has forced most [people] out of work and these sole breadwinners struggle to put food on the table.”

Many of these families missed out on Government assistance as they do not have phones, their community has no electricity supply, and they live far from the main road.

“We are so thankful that such organisation as ADRA has thought of us and this community to come and distribute this assistance,” Emele shared.

The settlements in Wainibuku and Davuilevu were part of the communities assisted with 161 food rations thanks to the support received from the Fiji Seventh-day Adventist Mission.

Article courtesy of ADRA Fiji.