We Were Walking Among Angels; On-The-Ground Insight Into Samoa’s Aid & Relief Work

Along the South Coast of Upolu, on Tuesday 29th September 2009, over 140 people lost their lives, over 300 injured, crops ruined, villages, schools, clinics, fales and some resorts destroyed leaving thousands homeless, hungry and destitute after an 8.3 earthquake triggered a destructive tsunami. American Samoa and Niutoputapu lost over 40 lives.

This is Part 2 of a two part post by our newest PEW writer Malia Tua’i Manuleleua who has recently returned from Samoa after volunteering with the Psycho-Social Response teams working in tsunami-affected villages along the South Coast of Upolu. One of about 70 or so local and overseas volunteers, Malia was part of a team assessing the physical, spiritual and mental health needs of individuals and families affected.

They worked in the villages of Ti’avea Tai, Vaovai and Saleaumua. Other team members: Ruta Sinclair, Team Leader and local volunteer; Pastor Ron Westbrook, Assembly of God, Australia; David Lui (NZ), and Peone Afamasaga (Samoa). They identified those who required counselling and further specialist services.  Other teams visited families in all the affected villages along the southern-west and east coastline from Siumu, Falealili to Aleipata including the small island of Manono.

Malia describes what she saw during her two weeks in Samoa. We published Part 1 yesterday. This is Part 2.

Click here to read Part 1

A young chld who survived the tsunami staying at Samoa's National Hospital. Photo: Malia Tua'i Manuleleua

We Were Walking Among Angels

By Malia Tua’i Manuleleua

On white Sunday we visited the Tsunami Ward at the national hospital with Elena Peteru, a local counselor at the University of the South Pacific. We gave out the crunchie bars and lollies to the tsunami survivors, children, parents and hard working staff, gifted from Cook Island friends Dr Tapu Rairi and Bernard Tairea. We also delivered medical supplies to Lalomanu Hospital from Dr Joe Williams from the Mt Wellington Accident & Family Health clinic.  Tauilili Paul Stowers and his son Daniel had travelled from Wellington with suitcases of clothes and food for the tsunami victims and gave them out randomly to villagers along the affected coastline.  Such has been the overflowing spirit of love and compassion from all.

A whole nation rallied together to take whatever was in their cupboards, in their pockets to those in need.

It has been the same with a tidal wave of assistance from all corners of the world, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, UK, USA, Middle East, Asia etc.  The giving and receiving has been overwhelming.

Family living makeshift at Saleaaumua. Photo: Malia Tua'i Manuleleua

Samoans and non-Samoans have worked shoulder to shoulder, offering freely of their time, skills, knowledge, love and compassion for the cause. Most working more than 12 hour shifts, weekends, some forced to go home out of sheer exhaustion, some sleeping where they lay their weary heads.

In the villages, despite the circumstances, families welcomed us into their tents or makeshift fales, offered us water and food and still managed to give us a warm, dignified smile.   It was a humbling experience.

When our 4wheel drive was stuck in the sand at Ti’avea Tai, the village boys pushed it to firmer ground.  When driving back to the main road, up the rough access track, our trucks right rear wheel hung off a ditch a metre deep.  Elderly women, men and small children in the tents came to our aid and helped to lift and push the truck back onto the road- amazingly, we achieved this on one attempt.

At Saleaumua, the next day the axle of a private vehicle belonging to one of our volunteers snapped.  In seconds we were surrounded by villagers who quickly summoned Lino the village mechanic.  He and his boys were able to get it back on the road within 3 hours.  Considering the complexity of the job and limited tools at their disposable it was a small miracle.

A local village mechanic, and his boys, freely help fix the axle of a volunteer's car after it snapped along the South Coast of Upolu. These acts of kindness from local Samoans in the tsunami-affected areas were commonplace . Photo: Malia Tua'i Manuleleua.

We were definitely walking among angels.

But that is who we are as a people, always looking out for each other. It is how we have been raised and live our lives. This tragedy has made us realise and appreciate that even more today.

Soon after we were blessed with heavy showers from the heavens that cooled us from the heat, cleansed the dirt from our faces, and quenched our thirst till the next day.

We met a puppy called Sunami, talked to children, mothers, fathers, a blind woman, a disabled person, a fisherman, a planter, a teacher, a carpenter, a shop keeper, a taxi-driver, a beach fale operator, ministers and their wives, matais (chiefs) two 90 year old great grandmothers, a pre-school teacher, a 12 year old school girl and many many more.

Each had their own remarkable heroic story to tell- stories of survival and loss, of incredible acts of kindness, of bravery.  Some emotionally, physically exhausted, dazed and lost, some philosophical and strong, grateful to be alive, and a gentle acceptance that it is Gods will and that life must go on.

Disaster Management Office. Root crops donated for the tsunami-affected families. Photo: Malia Tu'ai Manuleleua.

So many lives changed on the 29 September.  As a nation, Samoa has endured so much together, of great tragedy and sorrow, of great joy, great courage and great resilience. And the world has stood beside this little country in the middle of the Pacific ocean.  These are definitely days to remember.  Mistakes will be made, we are only human.  But let us not forget the bountiful good that has been done and will no doubt continue.

On my last visit to Vaovai a matai farewelled us with a familiar biblical verse, “O oe o le Isaraelu moni…” to express his deep gratitude for all who assisted and gave so generously in his time of need, from all over Samoa, New Zealand, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, United Kingdom, USA, Germany, Middle East, Asia from all four corners of the world.

The work by all has been heart-wrenching and yet so uplifting.  We came to give but what we gave was nothing compared to what we received.

More photos