Recovering in the wake of the tsunami. Photo: Jane Ussher/Oxfam

Pacific.Scoop
By Lucy Mullinger

Almost two weeks after the tsunami hit Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga, the devastation remains disturbing for many across the Pacific.

Without the kindness of strangers throughout the region, many people could have lost hope for the future.

Australia, China, New Zealand, France, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and the United States as well as the European Union have all responded with assistance.

Australia and New Zealand have boosted their aid to a further combined total of NZ$12.2 million after both governments agreed to chip in $6.1 million each.

New Zealand had already given $2 million in emergency aid and despatched the frigate HMNZS Canterbury and medical, military and search and rescue teams.

Aid agencies and other New Zealand groups have also been generous with their support. A Pacific Scoop round up of some of the efforts included:

Red Cross
According to marketing and communications manager from New Zealand’s Red Cross, Denise Mackey: “New Zealanders are notoriously generous”.

After providing $27 million for the Indonesian tsunami in 2004 and $3.3 million for the Australian bushfire disaster, the Red Cross has managed to raise $1 million in just one week.

With associations in most countries around the world, the Samoan Red Cross was out in force as soon as the tsunami had hit the country. However, it needed the help of other countries and New Zealand was fundraising within a day of the tsunami striking.

Along with community fund raisers and corporate donations, New Zealand people have arrived in droves to help the three Pacific nations and territories  affected.

The agency wants to “harness any medical professionals interested in assisting”.

Although a lot of money has already been raised for tsunami relief work, the Red Cross is happy to receive more.

Houses still need to be built; many people still need medical facilities and food.

Plains FM 96.9
Broadcasters on the Christichurch community access radio station Plains FM 96.9 are all volunteers and wanted to help out the islands the only way they knew how.

According to station manager Nicki Reece: “We felt we could be of most assistance to our local Samoan community by donating extra airtime so our broadcasters can link in with their contacts from radio stations in Samoa, and connect with grieving families here.”

According to Ed Swift on www.dannews.co.nz, $30,000 has already been raised from fundraising broadcasts.

Schools and universities
Students and staff of the National University of Samoa (NUS) collaborated to raise $11,000 for tsunami relief work.

The university’s Institute of Samoan Studies and Oloamanu Center received clothing, cutlery, sheets and food worth thousands of tala.

The vice-chancellor and president of NUS, Professor Leapai Ilaoa  Asofou  So’o, commended the generosity of staff and students.

“This is a humble gift from the university’s staff and students to the victims,” he said.

Otago University’s Student Association (OUSA) put a lot of effort into raising funds for the tsunami.

As soon as he heard about the tsunami, Pacific Island Representative John Philipson began working out ways to fundraise.

“We felt it was our duty to help,” he said.

Local butchers, supermarkets and bakeries gave the students free food so they could fundraise with a sausage sizzle; they also spoke to a freighting company in Dunedin who have offered their services for free.

Students at Otago University are donating, clothes, cutlery and other household goods.

OUSA managed to raise $1200 with fundraising and the same freight company has matched this to double the amount to 2400.

Philipson says: “We are very proud of what we have done and we hope that other schools are helping out too”.

AUT University’s “ambassador” La’auli Michael Jones is helping raise money for tsunami victims.

Collection centres for AUT students to donate non perishable foods, towels and clothes have been open since October 6 at the Mau Theatre, Corban Estate, 426 Great North Road, Henderson and Te Wananga Aotearoa, 15 Canning Crescent, Mangere.

Oxfam
According to Oxfam officials, the relief effort is still urgent and the future recovery of Samoa and its people is not just about immediate relief – it is about longer-term development.

Oxfam was allocated $150,000 from the New Zealand government’s Humanitarian Action Fund to support its Samoan recovery work over the next six months.

Combined with public donations, ongoing fundraising and offers of support from Canada and Germany, the agency is planning up to $1 million in funds.

“It’s wonderful to hear how generous the public has been. I hope donations continue to come in.

“When this disaster fades from the media spotlight, the hard work really begins,” says Oxfam aid worker Janna Hamilton.

There are survivors who do not yet have clean drinking water and the threat of disease still hangs over the islands. Women and children are particularly at risk.

Caritas Aotearoa
Catholic aid agency Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has pledged $25,000 towards relief efforts and is appealing for donations.

Caritas is well prepared for the tsunami. In fact, said New Zealand director Michael Smith, only last week Caritas staff from Oceania were in Samoa, and “participated in a simulation exercise involving a tsunami hitting the south coast”.

Caritas in Samoa were helping people as soon as the tsunami hit.

Their help included clearing land, preparing temporary shelter and bringing injured people to hospitals, ready for bigger voluntary organisations to start work.

On the island of Savai’i, a Catholic centre has been turned into an emergency medical centre.

Caritas has also helped with counselling for survivors and family members.

Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is well known for its work with people who don’t have somewhere to live.  CEO Pete North says Samoan families are scared of having their houses rebuilt near the ocean and are already in the middle of rebuilding higher up on the hills.

Church groups, businesses and clubs are being asked to help sponsor a home for around $7000 per home.  More information can be found on the website www.habitat.org.nz.

TEAR Fund
TEAR Fund nationwide is a Christian organisation that was originally founded to help the poor and destitute.  It has grown to become one of the biggest fundraising organisations in the world.

Donations can be made to TEAR Fund’s Disaster Relief Fund at www.tearfund.org.nz . A $20 donation can also be made by phoning 0900 90777.

Tongan gift
The government ot Tonga, one of the countries affected by the tsunami, has designated a gift of 500,000 pa’anga to Samoa and 100,000 pa’anga to American Samoa.

A spokesperson from the Prime Minister’s office said:  “Our local needs are much and our resources are meagre, but our ties and conscience tell us that this is a duty that must be done.”

‘Outstanding response’
According to NUS  journalism lecturer Victoria Lepou: “The response from local and international organisations and governments has been outstanding”.

The Samoan National Disaster Committee responded to the most affected areas on the day to assess the aftermath and ensure people paid attention to warnings issued.

The Electric Power Corporation and Samoan Water Authority have been working tirelessly to make sure that services are back up and running as soon as possible to the worst affected areas.

Samoan finance companies have catering for people withdrawing overseas remittances from family and friends and food pledges have arrived from overseas Samoan communities.

Misa Lepou says: “It’s amazing how international organisations such as Oxfam and Red Cross have done a great job in collecting and delivering help to those affected.”

At the moment, charities are focusing on Samoan people’s basic needs such as shelter tarpaulins, people to help recover missing loved ones (local authorities are in charge of this) food, water, clothes and furniture.

Samoan telethon
A Samoan radio/telethon was on the local stations – TVONE, Radio 2AP and National Disaster Council raised more than ST$600,000.00 in half a day.

Many people helped, ranging from young children dipping into their piggy bank savings to individual families, church, villages and local organisations.

Donations can still be made to the organisations already mentioned in this story.

However, Red Cross’s Mackey does not recommend people coming in to volunteer if they have not made plans before arriving in the country.

“There are huge numbers in the islands already,” she says.

“Extra people will just make it more complicated.”

Lucy Mullinger is a Graduate Diploma in Journalism student at AUT University.

How you can help in New Zealand:
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand
•   Donate to www.caritas.org.nz, by phone 0800 22 10 22, by automatic $20 donation from a phone account 09004 11 11, or cheques to Caritas, PO Box 12193, Wellington 6144.

Oxfam
•    Make a secure online donation at www.oxfam.org.nz – or make an automatic $20 donation by calling 0900 60020
•    Oxfam volunteers are on the street with collection buckets to support the Samoa Tsunami Appeal.

Pacific Cooperation Foundation
•    Deposits can be made at any Westpac branch. All the money raised will go to the Samoan government

Red Cross
•    Make a secure donation online at www.redcross.org.nz or www.givealittle.co.nz
•    Call 0900 31100 (automatic $20 donation)
•    At your local ANZ, ASB or Kiwibank branch

World Vision
•   Donate at worldvision.org.nz