Fiji saw another increase in fuel prices on 1 November, adding pressure on households already facing a rising cost of living. Vulnerable families and farming communities are among the hardest hit, as fuel costs push up transport, farming expenses and the price of everyday goods.
ADRA Fiji is responding through the Indo-Pacific Response Flexible Fund (IPRFF) Fiji Fuel Crisis Response. It has so far reached 3122 people through direct project support and a further 2032 through community awareness activities, a combined 5154 people. The figures are preliminary while beneficiary verification continues.
The response provides cash and voucher assistance, agricultural inputs and improved access to water, helping families cope with higher costs while keeping their gardens and farms producing. At Nadi District School, which serves children from local farming communities, new water tanks are now in use as reservoirs to strengthen water security.
ADRA Fiji project manager Akanisi Radinivugalei said rising fuel costs affect far more than transport, driving up farming costs and making it harder for families to meet their daily needs.
One of those helped is Gazala, a woman living with a disability in Nadi who values her independence and enjoys gardening. She received multi-purpose cash assistance at a time when rising living costs were hitting hard.
The response is led by the Church Agencies Network Disaster Operations (CANDO) and delivered by ADRA Fiji, FRIENDS Fiji and the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma, with support from ADRA Australia, Caritas Australia and UnitingWorld. It is funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership.
Photos: ADRA Fiji