Fiji's Rabuka says cyclone aid still to reach many villagers

The leader of Fiji's opposition SODELA Party is urging people still waiting for government help after Cyclone Winston to start rebuilding using whatever materials they can find.

Sitiveni Rabuka said he does not know why there had been a 15-month delay since the cyclone devastated parts of Fiji and some villagers are still living in tents.

Mr Rabuka said he recently visited the north western part of Viti Levu where some school buildings are still covered in taupaulins, and in Ra there are still students being taught in tents or outside.

"Well the sad part is that people have come to wait and come to accept that they have to wait rather than do their own rebuilding using whatever local resources they can get because the government has promised over the years to do rehabilitation."

"People must be encouraged to build their own homes and those who are badly badly affected and who can't afford to rebuild, must be assisted," he said.

Sitiveni Rabuka said he blamed the government's bad administraiton of the aid and he said while money had come from donors it had not gone into rehabilitation.