Be Sensitive With Tragedy, Media Told

Be Sensitive With Tragedy, Media Told
http://www.radiofiji.com.fj/fullstory.php?id=34647

By Roland Koroi/Radio Tarana

SUVA (Fiji Broadcasting Corporation/Pacific Media Watch): The Ministry of Information has asked Fiji media to seek clarification with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when reporting on the welfare of any Fiji citizen allegedly injured or killed in earthquake-hit Christchurch, New Zealand.

This follows reports from NZ station Radio Apna and Suva website Fiji Village that eight Fiji citizens had died in the earthquake and had been transferred to Wellington Hospital.

The radio stations quoted an unnamed doctor who reportedly updated the radio stations about the fate of 14 other Fijians who were allegedly critically injured at Wellington Hospital.

The report has since been proved false.

In a statement today, the Capital and Coast District Health Board clarified that no Fijian nationals had been admitted to Wellington Hospital as a result of the Christchurch earthquake, nor had any died .

Earlier today, Mere Tora of the Fiji High Commission in Wellington confirmed receiving an email from Wellington hospital clarifying the reports.

“I can confirm that right now, I have received confirmation from the communications advisor at the Wellington hospital and he has confirmed that Wellington Hospital has definitely not received any Fijian patients from the Christchurch earthquake. Its all false.”

Tora says any deaths involving Fijians will be relayed to them first through official sources.

“We are in close contact with the government of New Zealand through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and any deaths of nationals will come to us first.”

ENDS

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