The Social Welfare and Health Ministry said they are part of the taskforce which was formed to assist the people of Vatukoula who were badly affected after the closure the Vatuloula Gold Mines.

Media Liaison Officer Frederick Elbourne said the ministry's Poverty Alleviation Unit conducted a survey last year to determine the assistance to be provided to the affected people.

He added that the report has been given to the government taskforce.

Meanwhile, Interim Education Minister Filipe Bole had earlier said that the ministry was invited into the Action Committee group as stakeholders because a survey conducted had indicated that education assistance was on the priority list.

An education relief assistance was formed out of the action group to look at ways to address educational relief assistance.