8.0 Earthquake - Samoa Islands- Tsunami & 6.3 aftershock 2 days later

[Shiloh]

Re: 8.0 Earthquake - Samoa Islands- Tsunami & 6.3 aftershock 2 days later

Source: http://www.radiofiji.com.fj/fullstory.php?id=22925

Samoa Red Cross relief stocks depleted
Monday, October 05, 2009

Samoa Red Cross relief stocks from its disaster preparedness containers was depleted by last Friday as their distribution has covered 40 of the 60 villages affected by the tsunami.

Red Cross initial assessments have put the total number of people that were displaced by the tsunami to between 10,000 to 15,000.

However, Red Cross immediate concern is assisting hospital staff with the management of dead bodies.

Tarpaulins already distributed by the Samoa Red Cross not only for temporary shelter but also as makeshift body bags.

Samoa?s Environment Weekly editor Cherelle Jackson says Samoan hospitals ran out of mortuary space last week.

Jackson adds relief effort is well underway from governments and other organizations like the UN and Greenpeace.

?Relief has been coming in from countries like Australia, New Zealand, China and major organizations like the UN and Greenpeace. The Stadium which just hosted the Pacific Games last year is now the relief centre and where all sorts of relief stuff, you name it, they have provided for those affected by the tsunami.?

Meanwhile support from other sister Red Cross Societies in the Pacific has been mobilized to cover their relief efforts.

Red Cross is also distributing relief items to Tongan citizens affected by the tsunami and its initial assessments indicate that 800 people have been displaced and 76 homes destroyed.

There have been 9 confirmed deaths and a further 5 people in critical condition have been flown to Nuku?alofa.


Fiji Broadcasting Corporation

 

[Shiloh]

Re: 8.0 Earthquake - Samoa Islands- Tsunami & 6.3 aftershock 2 days later

Source: http://fijidailypost.com/news.php?section=1&fijidailynews=24996

Disaster aid flows to tsunami-hit Samoa
3-Oct-2009 09:50 AM

The International Federation of the Red Cross has released an additional $US340,000 to help with tsunami relief efforts in the Samoas and Tonga.

Representatives on the ground say they now believe that up to 50 villages along Samoa?s coast have been affected.

Significant damage has also been reported in American Samoa, and a team is on its way to Tonga?s northern most Niuas islands, where at least seven people are known to have died.

Aurelia Balpe from the Red Cross is coordinating the aid agency?s work from Suva in Fiji, and is in regular contact with teams on the ground.

She says the teams are finding desolation and people in shock.

?They?ve been providing fresh water, which is one of the basic needs there at the moment, shelter, psychological support and blankets and (they have) have set up several camps to help people who lost their homes,? she said.

The Red Cross has sent a public health specialist to Samoa to deal with health and sanitation problems.

Relief workers in the Pacific Island nation have expressed concerns that a lack of fresh water, and overcrowding at makeshift camps could lead to an outbreak of disease.

The head of the Australian branch of the International aid agency Oxfam says it is women and children who are most at risk.

An Oxfam co-ordinator was due to arrive in Samoa Thursday to assess the situation.

Oxfam?s Chris Roche says they have emergency supplies including mosquito nets and hygiene kits for 10,000 people, and are ready to respond to calls for assistance.
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