Bay of Plenty Times photojournalist Ruth Keber has joined New Zealand Vanuatu Rebuild in helping repair the shattered island nation and today shares the grief of a community that has lost a young member far too soon.
The Sorovanga community's pain can be heard before it is seen when we arrive to work Monday morning.
Another death struck the village Sunday night - the second in the week we have been here.
Daisy, 18, died about 11pm and by 9am the next morning the sound of sobsand wailing are far more powerful than our hammering and drilling on the school a little less than 20m away.
Mourners walk through Sorovanga after 18-year-old Daisy died. Photo / Ruth Keber
Late last year her right knee started to swell but her family did not have enough money for proper medical treatment on her home island of Epi. It is thought an infection took hold of her body and eventually took her young life.
Her family was finally able to bring her from the Nalema community in the south of Epi to Efate a few weeks ago but doctors told the family no treatment would help her.
All morning hundreds of mourners file past the New Zealand Vanuatu Rebuild building site carrying food, mats - and their sorrows.
Among them is her aunty Alice, with tears spilling down her face.
At the family's home, Daisy's body is laid out. Her mother, adoptive mother, sisters and extended family, struck with grief, sit on the floor beside her - holding her hands and stroking her face.
As the mourners enter the 10m x 10m room they remove their shoes on a woven mat and step up on to the concrete slab where her body lies.
Tears and sobs instantly follow as each person walks over to her body, kneels down and says their last goodbyes.
Their pain, heard across the village for several hours, is a reminder to all of us how precious yet fragile life is.
A woman holds a handkerchief to her face as she attends the vigil. Photo / Ruth Keber
Daisy was adopted out as a young girl because her aunty did not have any female children but to both mothers - biological mother Dianne Ben, and Edna Ruben - she was a favourite.
She loved ocean swimming but was forced to hobble around on crutches in the last weeks of her life.
She was also a solid rock for her family - looking after every one else and helping with cooking, cleaning and taking care of the younger children.
Daisy's aunty Alice says the bright teen is already sorely missed.
Sorovanga neighbours leave the family home. Photo / Ruth Keber
A black vehicle carrying Daisy's body leaves the Black Sands community late Monday afternoon - following several other vans filled with friends and family.
As they quietly drive past, members of the volunteer team put down their tools, take off their hats and stand in silence and respect.
We have only been part of the community for a short time but we very much feel their loss.
