As aid agencies work to get families under solid roofs away from mosquito-ravaged plantations, the mammoth relief effort in Samoa turns towards re-building for the future.
Just over two weeks after an 8.3 earthquake struck off American Samoa, triggering a series of tsunamis that killed more than 180 people and
flattened villages in Samoa and Tonga, most immediate needs have been met.
The focus is now on long-term development.
"We're still over there delivering critical supplies like drinking water and food, but we're shifting our sights to longer-term recovery efforts," said Oxfam spokesman Jason Garman.
Tinned fish, bottled water and mats were necessary to get survivors through the immediate aftermath, but a successful recovery required long-term commitment, he said.
Oxfam is trying to raise $1 million to fund a 12 to 24-month rehabilitation plan, and is working with local communities and groups. The NZ Government has pledged $6.1 million towards essential services and infrastructure.
More than 40 medical personnel have been deployed since the tsunami struck, and three tonnes of medical equipment, supplies and medications have been delivered. Many tsunami survivors are homeless, with the Samoan Government classing 4500 people as "most affected".
Mr Garman said while "some people were out rebuilding after four days", most were in temporary shelter or bunking down with relatives.
"They are adequately looked after, it just means that instead of there being 10 people in the house there might now be 15," he said.
Oxfam is also working with local partner organisation Women in Business Development, delivering seedlings and tools to the growing network of organic farmers. Two large water bladders had been sent for immediate water needs and agencies were working to establish permanent supplies.
Mr Garman said many displaced families were still living under tarpaulins in the hills, scared to move back to the coast. But agencies had to be strategic and not rush decisions about installing new water supplies and sanitation systems as "from past experience from tsunamis etc, in time, some people will change their minds".
The needs of women, children and the disabled were being addressed first.
"We're ensuring relief reaches the most vulnerable people first. They are typically the ones in this kind of disaster situation who have the littlest say in decisions impacting their lives," Mr Garman said.
Red Cross team leader Douglas Clark, who returns to New Zealand today, said Samoans were resilient people, who were "basically just getting on with the job".
He said some had lost their livelihoods and would have to consider career changes.
Meanwhile, Red Cross worker Carl Burr is in Tonga, helping deliver clean water and sanitation via a new desalination unit. The emergency water maker has the capacity to pump out 3000 litres of clean water per day to up to 900 people and uses a filtration system to make salt water drinkable.
A number of rain tanks were destroyed and wells were fouled with seawater when the tsunami struck, killing nine people and leaving 470 homeless.
TO DONATE:
nzaid.govt.nz
How to donate to tsunami relief operations:
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 at mercury.co.nz
or text the word Samoa followed by 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 habitat.org.nz
Unicef
Make a secure online donation unicef.org.nz
or phone on 0800 800 194
