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Whether burying loved ones, recovering from injury or rebuilding homes, about one in five Samoans are suffering after Wednesday's devastating tsunamis.
An estimated 32,000 people have been classed as "affected", following the series of waves triggered by an 8.3 earthquake off the coast of American Samoa.
Speaking from the devastated southern coast of Upolu, NZ Red Cross team leader Douglas Clark said the impact was widespread.
He and two other Kiwis were there, on the ground, in support of the Samoan Red Cross.
"Affected is a very subjective word, which means people who have lost houses or had people killed or injured, gardens inundated with salt water and affectively won't have any crops or, say, lost a fishing boat," he said.
Mr Clark arrived in Samoa on Wednesday - on board a supply-laden NZ Air Force Hercules - which was followed by a commercial flight.
Between them, the two carriers bore 1000 tarpaulins, 500 water containers, 500 blankets, 500 cooking sets, 200 body bags, 100 first aid kits and 50 family tents.
"What we don't want is for the Samoan Red Cross to have their cupboards bare for the next emergency," Mr Clark explained.
Following Wednesday's devastating "walls of water", which killed about 180 people so far, the Samoan Red Cross team has been going from village to village to assessing damage.
He said workers were recording details of people missing and injured and the needs of each family.
There were two scenarios for families whose homes were lost - staying with friends or relatives, or camping out.
Most families were taking refuge beneath tarpaulins in their gardens, Mr Clark said.
"That's where they grow their taro etc. They don't want to move onto congregated areas, they want to keep the family on their land," he said. "So they're there with nothing but the clothes on their backs in many cases."
Mr Clark said the southern coastline was full of tourist resorts and "not just the big fancy ones, more backpacker-style as well".
"All those resorts are gone now so there's a loss of income there and most would have had a boat and fished, so now they don't have that source of protein."
Mr Clark said many would have sold fish on roadside markets and had now lost that source of income.
He said it would take a long time to rebuild the islands and urged New Zealanders to get in behind the relief effort.
MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR THE VICTIMS
Sunday October 4
* Malaeola Community Centre, 16 Waokauri Pl, Mangere, South Auckland, at 11am.
* Lotofalei'a Tongan Methodist Church, 34 Orly Ave, Mangere, South Auckland, at 7pm.
* Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa, 7 Lincoln Rd, Henderson, West Auckland, at 7pm.
* Samoan Community Incorporated Welfare Hall, 8 Giles St, Tokoroa, at 4pm.
Monday October 5
* University of Auckland Maclaurin Chapel, 18 Princes St, Auckland City, at 12.30pm.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Pacific Cooperation Foundation
Deposits can be made at at any Westpac branch. All the money raised will go to the Samoan Government
Red Cross
- Make a secure online donation at redcross.org.nz
- Send cheques to the Samoan Red Cross Fund, PO Box 12140, Thorndon, Wellington 6144
- Call 0900 31 100 to make an automatic $20 donation
- Make a donation at any NZ Red Cross office
ANZ bank
Make a donation at any ANZ bank branch, or donate directly to the ANZ appeal account: 01 1839 0143546 00
Oxfam
- Make a secure online donation at
Oxfam.org.nz
- Phone 0800 400 666 or make an automatic $20 donation by calling 0900 600 20
