Life is a struggle for Tui Masivao.

Every day the 65-year-old, from Palisi, has to deal with no consistent water supply. 

Not only that, he has been bedridden for two years.

Coupled with his struggles, are his worries of using a pit toilet and living in a rundown shelter. 

The unemployed father of one shared his housing condition affects him every day.

“As you can see where we live, it is not safe. Our house was damaged by Tropical Cyclone Evan in 2012, but Tropical Cyclone Gita took it to a whole new level,” he told the Village Voice team. 

“A tree fell on the house and took the entire front part of our house. We have been living here since 1993, so the house is really old.”

“Even the water supply is poor in our area. We rely on the waterfall in our area. The road is terrible and since we live on the highlands, we are surrounded by massive trees.” 

“We have only one child and eight grandchildren. They all live here with us.”

“The roof leaks and we worry because we have electricity in the house. Even the floor of the house is not safe.”

Despite the condition of the hut they live in, he says they have no choice because there is nowhere to move to.

Only one person works who has to cater for 12 people.

“I have three grandchildren who are in school and the other two are not. We are really poor and we need help.”

“Only our son works. The money that he receives is does not provide for everything.”

“I stopped working ages ago because I have become very ill. My body just feels so weak and I cannot really do anything.”

“For my wife, she is sick too. She cannot see clearly anymore. Usually her face would just get really red and then becomes swollen.”

He says since both he and his wife are ill, their daughter-in-law cannot work or look for a job because of her children, whom they cannot look after. 

“All of our grandchildren are really young and we obviously cannot take care of them.”