SUVA, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Fijian government is working with the United Nations and non-government organizations to improve the living conditions of those living in squatter settlements.
The People's Community Network (PCN), a non-government organisation, said on Tuesday that it plans to build more houses for those so-called "squatter families" living in Jittu Estate, Suva, one of the known squatter settlements.
The Fijian government has vowed to provide decent housing to more than 10,000 "squatter families" within Suva City alone.
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said it was a work in progress that might take time, but reiterated the government's commitment to improving the lives of all Fijian people.
Bainimarama said that they could do much more if the government forged more partnerships with relevant stakeholders as he appealed to potential development partners to come forward.
The Pacific country has a very rapid rate of urbanization and high population growth, thus posing both challenges and opportunities to the government.
The migration of poor rural people to urban centers and the rising cost of properties have caused a rise in tenancy in squatter settlements.
Mere Vuki, a mother of four children who live in a squatter settlement in Narere outside Suva, said that she could not live anywhere else as the squatter settlement her family lived in was the only affordable place.
Her village is in the interior of Viti Levu, Fiji's largest island, but she moved to Suva 10 years ago to send her children to school and allow her husband who works as a security guard to earn a living.
Real Estate Agents Licensing Board of Fiji chairman Abdul Hassan said that about 77,794 Fijians lived in squatter settlements around Fiji.
