Fiji is a popular tourist destination by countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and many others. Although visitors to the country enjoy the exotic resorts amd the warm culture of the local population, they are often oblivious to the hardships faced by citizens and the extent of poverty that exists in the country.

The Problem

What's causing poverty in Fiji?

• The economic downturn caused by the decline of major industries such as sugar, garment, and tourism have caused job losses and loss of income.
• The the lack of income in rural areas is seeing more and more families to move to urban areas. A large number of these families end up in urban squatter settlements (shanty towns).
• Natural Disasters such as hurricanes, cyclones, floods, and drought cause food shortages, affects subsistence agriculture and also result in the loss of income for farmers and casual workers.

Both absolute and relative poverty exist in Fiji. There are households which are absolutely poor and which do not have enough food and clean water, or access to a decent house or to basic education. There are others who live in relative poverty in that they do not have access to the basic needs, which a society may consider to be "normal".

Various studies show that traditional and institutional safety nets for the poor have rapidly eroded and subject to many constriants. Over the past two decades, Fiji has experienced an economic downturn. This has seriously affected marginal households, services for children and communities already on the edge of poverty.

While aid agencies largely concentrate upon development-focused approaches to poverty alleviation, the immediate needs of children such as nutrition and access to education remain unattended. Voluntary agencies often struggle to cater for the growing number of children in need of assistance, food, shelter, and education. There are indications of declining health conditions among children of all ages. Their decline is a loss of human resource upon which communities grow and develop.

For several years there have been concerns over the standard of nutrition in Fiji. Data collected in 1993 indicated an increase in under nourishment, particularly deficiencies in micronutrients in children and in mothers leading to health complications and other chronic conditions later in life. Televised images of starving children with distended bellies have brought the problem of global hunger home to people in developed countries. Sadly, however, the problem is far deeper than an immediate lack of food particularly in countries like Fiji. The extent of hunger and malnutrition are not clearly visible, misunderstood and even neglected by authorities and international agencies.

Child malnutrition is expected to increase to epidemic proportions. A 2004 report by the Food and Nutrition Committee indicated that over 40% of Fiji's children are malnourished. The situation is rather acute in more disadvantaged areas, particularly in squatter settlements where around 104,000 people currently reside.

It is obvious that nutrition is a critical factor affecting children and nutritional feeding programs are needed to improve the situation of thousands of children living in poverty conditions.