The country’s largest disaster relief organisation the Fiji Red Cross is urging more young people to join their network.

The NGO says it’s difficult to find volunteers in times of disasters, meaning it can’t cater for the needs of the people.

The Red Cross is usually the first to respond during natural disasters – providing food relief and other forms of aid to thousands of families.

However, this isn’t easy with a limited number of volunteers according to Director General Filipe Nainoca.

_“We are always looking for volunteers, volunteers are difficult to get but when we get the volunteers we have to find something for them to do, at the moment we are working through that to get volunteers but also have activities in the branches for the volunteers to do in preparedness towards the disaster."-

Nainoca says young people are beginning to show interest in volunteering, and the Red Cross is hoping some will turn up at their office to register.

The organisation is taking on volunteers right now, leading up to the cyclone season starting November.

“Not everyone has the heart to volunteer, I often think the person who volunteers, is a special person, and not everybody volunteers, these young people enjoy, meeting people, helping them, so between that age 15-30 where most of our volunteers are."

Red Cross branches are spread out across Fiji and another may open in Rotuma soon.

Special training is given to volunteers on how to respond to any type of disaster or emergency.