Why relief work on Fiji? The islands of Fiji are located in the Pacific Ocean and consist of 322 islands, about 100 of which are permanently inhabited. Fiji was formerly a British colony, but became autonomous in 1966, and completely independent in 1970. Following this, the country has been stricken by several military coups, racial discrimination and political unrest. Fiji is a poor country where unofficial estimates indicate somewhere in the region of 25% unemployment. Women’s and children’s rights are not prioritised, and both domestic violence against women and child labour are widespread. The country lacks financial resources for healthcare and education, and many schools are in very poor condition and lack basic materials. The islands of Fiji are also frequently hit by natural disasters, such as droughts, flooding and hurricanes.
