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Sacks of rice, flour, water and boxes of tinned fish were gratefully received by villagers who literally lost everything but the clothes on their backs when a massive tsunami ripped through Samoa last week.
A 30-day food assistance programme has been organised by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, together
with the National Disaster Management Office of Samoa.
Yesterday, large utes packed with food, water, pots and pans made their way along a dusty road up the mountain past Lalomanu and Saleapaga where makeshift tents line both sides of the road.
Families too scared to return to their villages, fearful that another tsunami will strike, lie beneath blue tarpaulins stretched out as tents.
They line up gratefully but shyly to receive equal portions of food.
Fata Pule, clutching onto three boxes of tinned fish in one hand and a large oven pot in the other, says the help that is filtering in from the community in New Zealand and across the world is unbelievable and humbling.
"I would like to thank the Samoan community in New Zealand and in all parts of the world. We are very grateful.
"We stand here with nothing in return, but just a simple thank you."
Mr Pule's family lost three young children last week, when the tsunami destroyed everything they owned.
He said it was by the will of God that he had for some reason sent his 16-year-old son out to watch the sea after the earthquake struck.
"I told him to go stand near the sea and watch it - a tsunami might come. It wasn't long when we heard my son yelling out that the tsunami was coming [and telling us to] run," Mr Pule said.
"My son was lucky too, becausehe was running but the thing[wave] was so fast, he was solucky to have made it out alive."
Food and other essential items, including cooking utensils and hygiene packs, will continue to be distributed throughout those villages affected by the tsunami for the next month.
International development specialist Dayan Eager, based in New Zealand, said: "Although the emergency phase is largely complete, we now have to work with the community to regenerate itself to prosper in the long term."
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
Caritas
- Make a secure online donation at Caritas.org.nz
- Phone 0800 22 10 22 or make an automatic $20 donation by calling 0900 4 11 11
TEAR fund
- Make a secure online donation at tearfund.co.nz
- Phone 0800 800 777 to specify Samoa the Philippines or Indonesia. You can also donate at CD and DVD stores.
Mercury Energy - Donate online at www.mercury.co.nz by texting the word Samoa, the amount you wish to pledge and your Mercury account number to 515 or by calling 0800 10 18 10.
Habitat for Humanity - Habitat for Humanity is asking for help with the clean-up. Contact the organisation at www.habitat.org.nz
