Childfund New Zealand is supporting Kiribati with its Covid-19 preparedness by delivering hygiene kits and conducting awareness in the community.
Kiribati has yet to record a confirmed case of the coronavirus but the government has suspended all international flights and closed the borders as a precaution.
Child Fund NZ staff in Kiribati visit a family in Betio, Tarawa. Photo: Child Fund NZ
Childfund New Zealand's chief executive Paul Brown said his staff, on the ground, worked in Betio on Tarawa, one of the Pacific's most densely populated islands.
"There's upwards of 50,000 people living in that part of South Tarawa.
"We work closely with about 1600 households roughly about 18,000 people," said Mr Brown.
"A lot of the homes are poorly constructed using leftover building materials or you might see people living in parts of cars and so forth."
Mr Brown said living conditions were a major concern when thinking about disease prevention.
"Most families are multi-generational so the average family size might be eight or more than eight, living in very, very tight and cramped conditions."
"So that is our concern if there is any disease outbreak, whether it be flu or Covid-19, it will certainly spread rapidly."
Mr Brown said he wanted to thank New Zealanders for their generosity in difficult times saying the work being done to help vulnerable communities in the Pacific would not be possible without their support.
The Kiribati capital and most populated area, South Tarawa, consists of several islets, connected by a series of causeways. Photo: Supplied
