Samoa Government & Donors Join Forces To Build New Homes for Tsunami Survivors

By Tupuola Terry Tavita in Apia

Works minister Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau Sofara and a contingent of top public officials this week visited the tsunami-affected areas at Aleipata and Falealili consulting the residents of government’s housing assistance.

Losi Valevale, 78, of the village of Vailoa in the district of Aleipata shows a design of her house to be built by government and donor partners.

Government has finalised a single standard design for all tsunami house reconstruction financed and undertaken either by government or any of its reconstruction partners.

The design comprises of an open-styled Samoan fale with roofing iron and shower and restroom facilities at the back. Total cost is $18,000 tala.

Affected families are given several options, the minister explained. If they decide to build their own house, then government can provide $18,000 tala-worth of building supplies. If they want to build their own house, then go ahead and do it. If they cannot acquire carpenters then government in partnership with Habitat International can build the house for them for free.

On the list compiled by government authorities, some 600 homes have to be rebuilt.

Apart from government housing assistance, two other organizations have entered into partnership with government to finance and assist house construction. Caritas, a Catholic charity group will build 50 houses and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has agreed to build 40.

“Two other organisations have agreed to build another 12 houses,” said Tuisugaletaua.

“But they will all be of the same design as we’ve shown you.”

The idea, he said, is to avoid any conflict among residents that one organization is building better houses than the other.

The assistance from government and its tsunami reconstruction partners was warmly received by almost all the villages.

However it appears that many will be taking up the option of receiving $18,000-worth of building supplies as many have already started rebuilding with assistance from their families overseas.

Some asked if the building design will stand up in the hills where they will be moving to given this was the windward side of the island prone to cyclone winds.

“Don’t worry, this is a design the architects and engineers have agreed is the most solid and ideal for our weather.”

Construction of the houses, Tuisugaletaua said, will start immediately. Those who want building assistance from Habitat International will have to wait a fortnight when that group’s building teams arrive from New Zealand .”

Asked of the response from the community, Tuisugaletaua said,

“The underlying message coming across to us is that people want to build or rebuild their houses right away, to move on with their lives.”

Other issues raised during the consultation were if whether things like cars and fishing boats destroyed by the tsunami could be replaced by government. Tuisugaletaua said that government does not have the funds to cover such claims.

Source: Government of Samoa