Caritas Samoa lends hand

By Deidre Tautua – Fanene 20 February 2018, 12:00AM

Caritas Samoa is one of the many humanitarian organisations and agencies who have been lending a helping hand to families affected by Tropical Cyclone Gita.

Programme Manager, Fuatino Muliagatele-Ah Wai, said they have already started distributing to families that were badly affected, especially families living in areas such as Vaimoso, Taufusi, Togafu’afu’a, Moata’a, Fugalei and so forth.

“The whole purpose is to lend a hand to those in need,” she told the Samoa Observer.

“We have teams in Savai’i as well and in the rural areas that are distributing products such as tarpaulin, hoses, pots, blankets and much more to those families."

“We are also working together with the Disaster Management Organization, and the Samoa Red Cross Society in identifying families that we have already helped."

“It’s good to work together and sharing information so that we don’t duplicate the distributing of the stuff."

A total of 182 families in Upolu and Savai’i have received assistance from Caritas Samoa.

She added that before they give out any assistance, they have to carry out assessments to identify families badly affected.

“All our volunteers have been trained in doing assessment and handling assistance, not only that they are well trained on what to do and where to go when disaster hits,” she said.

“All our assistance is from New Zealand and Australia and every year we receive supplies and tools as well as resources to be distributed when a disaster hits."

“These are stored in containers located in some parts of Savaii as well as Upolu.”

She also said not only did Caritas Samoa gave out assistance; they also provided an evacuation center in Vaoala for the people who needed accommodation during natural disasters.

“There were people in the evacuation center during the cyclone and they all returned to their homes.”

By Deidre Tautua – Fanene 20 February 2018, 12:00AM
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