28 October 2009

ADRA New Zealand commences recovery program in Samoa

Auckland, New Zealand
Evan Fray

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency of New Zealand (ADRA NZ) has commenced a recovery program following immediate relief work in Samoa in the villages of Saleapaga, Satitoa and Saleaumaua, three of the most devastated areas on the south coast of the island of Upolu.

ADRA NZ International Programme Director, Dayan Eager, has instigated a reconstruction and recovery project that will see local unemployed young people take a leading part in paid work to rebuild a community that has lost everything in the path of the September 29 tsunami.

photo from ADRA New Zealand

"We are going to use those members of families that belong to households that have suffered the most," says Mr Eager. "There are a lot of willing workers who are either currently unemployed or have lost their sources of income who would be receiving cash for work to help with the recovery efforts."

This cash for work project will be followed by a series of training workshops to increase community preparedness in the event of future emergencies. Emergency response exercises are planned to test community emergency response plans.

The tsunami death toll is currently over 140 with approximately 3200 people homeless or living in makeshift shelters. Hospitals have treated more than 600 people and the Government estimates the damage cost to be in excess of $US150 million.

Immediately following the disaster, ADRA has been active with assistance and distribution of both food and non-food items such as radios, lanterns, tarpaulins and water containers as well as the post emergency distribution of gardening kits comprising of axes, spades and bush knives and a kitchen kit of food storage containers, pots, pans and other utensils.

"ADRA was part of the initial disaster assessments and works alongside the Disaster Management Office in Samoa to become very involved with the supply of these items, all of which were identified as high priority items," says Mr Eager.

"Now that many aid agencies that are part of the initial response are departing, ADRA NZ is actively seeking donations for the continuation of the all important long-term recovery work."

Visit ADRA for more information about the response efforts, or to donate to the Samoa Tsunami Appeal.

Watch videos on how donations are helping ADRA assist people.

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