October 1
Samoan earthquake and tsunami
Key contact:
Tim Walsh
Caritas Oceania
Regional Coordinator
Ph: +64 21 744 781
Email: caritasoceania@xtra.co.nz
Caritas Australia Contact:
Kirsty Robertson
Pacific Coordinator
Ph: +61 430 296 412
Email: kirstyr@caritas.org.au
Brief summary of the general situation:
Yesterday’s earthquake and resulting tsunami have caused significant damage and loss
of life in Samoa. Caritas Samoa teams were quick to respond with an initial assessment
team sent out within hours of the quake.
Program progress
The Caritas Samoa team returned to the Shrine of Three Hearts last night. They have 70
people lodged in accommodation there and have taken the worst to hospital at
Moto’otua.
The ArchBishop is returning to Samoa.
Initial needs assessments on the South side of Upolu (INLCUDING THE VILLAGES OF
Si’umi and Falali’ili’I have indicated an immediate need for food, water and shelter.
Requests have been made to the Samoan Red Cross for this assistance.
The Caritas Samoa Director will be at this morning’s meeting at National Disaster
Management Office in Apia and will feedback more information after that meeting
including whether or not they will be involved in wider assessment of Savai’I and/or
American Samoa.
There is a planned telecon with Caritas Australia, Caritas NZ, Caritas Oceania and CRS
at 2pm EST Aus today. To follow up on planned ways forward.
There was a telcon with CI representatives last night in which discussions centered
around what members of the confederation can do to assist Caritas Samoa at this time