SUVA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- More than 19,000 Fijian families most-affected by the impacts of COVID-19 will receive 100 Fijian dollars a month over the next four months through digital cash transfers.
According to Fijivillage news website, this is being done through the Fiji National Philanthropic Trust Cash Assistance Program - a partnership between Save the Children Fiji, Fiji Council of Social Services and Vodafone Fiji.
The first cash transfer to households commenced before Christmas with the final payment due at the end of March.
Save the Children Fiji's Chief Executive Officer Shairana Ali said this will be one of the largest cash assistance programs ever rolled out in Fiji and will be especially crucial now as families prepare to send children back to school.
Ali said they have worked closely with other non-governmental organizations to identify families in the greatest need of assistance and develop an assessment criteria that targets vulnerable groups such as the elderly, women, children, and people living with disabilities. The assistance is being distributed digitally through the Vodafone M-PAISA platform.
Fiji reported on Wednesday four more imported COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of such cases to 53 in the island nation.
Fiji recorded its first case of COVID-19 on March 19, and two of the 53 cases have died so far. Fiji now has five active cases.
The island nation maintains a strict travel restriction for foreign visitors and keeps a nationwide curfew effective since March 30. Enditem
