Samoa Tsunami Response

On October 9th I travelled to Samoa to assist in the ADRA New Zealand and ADRA Australia response to the Tsunami that occurred on September 29 (local date-Samoa is over the International Date Line).

I travelled with Air Nugini via Solomons, Fiji and with Air Pacific on to Samoa. Very expensive! It was a little ‘different’ as I was on standby and most of the plane (Fokker 100) was taken up by a large golf group (16 teams of four – plus others) which included the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea and the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands as well as many of the richest people in Papua New Guinea. If the plane had gone down I would have been in good company! Hahaha

Most flights to Samoa arrive or leave at very inconvenient times. I arrived around 1 am and the next morning made my way to the SDA Mission where I hoped the ADRA team were staying. Here are a couple of photos of the ADRA office (ex transit flat), the Mission HQ, Samoa Adventist College and the Church.

I met Robert Patton and Sara McBride Steele both from NZ. I went to the IASC (Inter Agency Standing Committee is the organising body) meeting.

The weekend was ‘White Sunday’ celebration of Children and as such Monday was also a public holiday.

Robert headed over to American Samoa for the weekend to do an assessment and meet some of the community leaders there. Sara and I thought we would do some ‘normal touristy’ activities instead of the tsunami tourism, so we headed over to Manono Island (in between the main islands of Samoa) to see the “Tomb of 99 Stones” and the “Ancient Star Mound” that we could see on the map. In the end we didn’t get to the ‘star mound’ but saw the Tomb which was being repaired by a careful elder replacing the smaller stones washed away by the tsunami which flowed over it. We met a Matai whose house was damaged, father’s house, jetty and dive boats were destroyed and a NZDF health team who landed in a ‘Huey’ on the foundations of one of the destroyed houses. We all shared a packet of chocolate biscuits given to us by a family who had lost nearly everything… very humbling. He was thankful that no one had died from Manono. Much of the damage was initially caused by the earthquake, the first wave was slightly smaller and allowed people to escape up the hills before the larger more destructive waves came from the side and smashed everything.

On returning to the jetty where ‘Sam’, one of the local boat operators was waiting for us, there was a DMO (Disaster Management Office) team delivering supplies for the tsunami affected families. We helped unload and travelled back to Upolu Island and back to the office.

Sara left the next morning and Robert arrived back from American Samoa where he was fed an enormous amount of food at the local McDonalds! He also arranged for a Management Committee to be set up and receive help from ACS (Adventist Community Services) as it is a US Territory.

On Tuesday, 13^th October, I travelled out to Salaeumua, one of the three affected communities ADRA is working with, to help distribute food and clothing to 81 families living in the plantations behind their destroyed village. We were also joined by Craig and Ange from NZ who were out here on a prebooked holiday and wanted to help out.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were all filled with meetings and collecting information as well as networking with organisations already working here in Samoa while Eddie, Moleni and others went to start the 'Network Response' which involved distribution of kitchen equipment and garden tools... in the pouring rain.

Saturday, Eddie and I went to visit Salaepaga SDA church which is meeting ina temporary structure. They had invited all the community members and provided a great lunch for all (donated by some local SDA church members).

This was the site of the original Salaepaga SDA church. All that is left is the floor of the toilet block. The rest of the foundation was probably washed out to sea when the 1m deep gully was made here.

We then travelled over to Salaeumua where we had an informative discussion with some locals there too. There were many evidences of the impact on the marine environment - from large reef rocks, mud from the land and housing structures still in the water that need to be cleaned up.

This picture also proves that usually the safest spot in a house is a small room. It does give evidence to many who want to extend their time in the loo. You never know when a cyclone or tsunami may hit. It also shows how it is incredible how anyone survived going through the enormous power of this tsunami.

On returning we travelled down the coast through Poutasi (where a number of tourists died... and you can understand it when you see the impact evidence of the wave) and over the Cross Island Road. Notice the backboard of the basketball ring has been smashed off...

There were also many calls and messages from family and friends as it is my birthday on the other side of the IDL.

Sunday, 18^th October was my birthday. Last year I was in Rabaul-next year I will have to be with my family! I shared a meal with Eddie Erika (Melbourne) on the left, and Andrew Feaveai (Brisbane) who are pastors of Samoan churches out here checking out opportunities for further support their churches can make for the Tsunami response.

Monday, 19^th October, was a day of writing proposals (the main reason I was invited out here) and more meetings. Theresa and Kolao took me out to dinner. It was a lovely meal beside the waterfront. They had spent four years in Port Moresby and so knew of the security issues that are facing Papua New Guinea. They could understand my appreciation of the local environment of Apia and Samoa in general.

Tuesday 20^th October: myself, Moleni Iene (ADRA Samoa Country Director) and Vinay (Red Cross Representative) had discussions with people from Women in Business, Development & Industry – WIBDI, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing – MAFF (Crops Division), Small Business Enterprise Centre – SBEC and South Pacific Business Development – SPBD. These discussions were centred on livelihoods, microfinance and agriculture. Both ADRA Samoa and the Red Cross are looking at providing assistance in the rebuilding of livelihoods in affected communities.

Moleni took me to a meal and Traditional Samoan dancing. The place was nearly empty - like the restaurant last night - "Please come back to Samoa," is what I hear from many tourism operators.

For the last couple of days in Samoa I worked on project activities; interviewing prospective staff members for the NZ Aid funded early response project, meeting various stakeholders with Vinay Raj (Red Cross representative looking at a livelihood project too) and writing the proposals.

I did go shopping for presents for my family in the handicraft market. Only about 20% of the stalls were open and everyone was looking desperate for sales. I bought some shell ear rings, a freshwater pearl necklace and woven bag for Marilyn and some pearl bracelets, shell necklaces for Tiarna and Jenaya.

Travelled to the airport with Moleni and his son at 3:30 am. I flew out to Fiji at 5:20.

I arrived at Nadi airport and booked a place at a backpackers called "Smugglers Cove" for the one night I was in Fiji until the Air Nugini flight left for PNG.

I wanted to do something for the day so I booked a day cruise on a 'sailing ship' to Mystery Island... aka Tuima Island.

After a day of seeing dead and dying coral (nothing compared to what we can see at Salaumua near Lae!) and sleeping under a tree after walking around the little island in 10 minutes, eating a small salad at the very large BBQ (burnt sausages and chops) I laid down for a rest at 5:30pm and the next thing I know it was midnight and missed out on the free show at 7pm! Woke up again at 5:30 am feeling refreshed, had breakfast and went to the airport.

Air Nugini had the only manual check-in process at Nadi. I was only 12 people from the front and it took 1hr 20 min!. In the immigration line there were two older ladies beside me that had joined the queue at the back of the Air Pacific Jumbo flight to Sydney. Probably a hundred people processed in the same time it took Air Nugini. No wonder we left 40 minutes late. After paying over K6,600 for just the Nadi-POM return leg, you would think that they could afford a couple of computers and a boarding pass printer!

Again, a Fokker 100 3 hr flight to Honiara, stop over, then 1.5 hr flight to POM. Of course the plane was delayed from POM to Lae 4 o'clock flight laft at 6:30. (we do not even consider that to be late!)

Home finally at 8 o'clock. Great to be home.

Cholera in Lae

Update as of Sept 10:
This is just a short update on the numbers of patients involved.
There have been 244 cholera patients with 19 deaths (7.7% mortality which is relatively high - probably due to the initial lack of knowledge)
There are 6 of the 9 districts in Morobe Province involved with cases spreading to Madang and Eastern Highlands. (Gulf border unknown)
Menyama cases in previous post.

Update as of September 8:
Three of the Health Centres surrounding the city of Lae have been reopened. (Initially there were only 2 of the 6 clinics that were open as the others were closed for either renovations or due to security reasons (many are often held up by raskols to rob staff of phones etc)
A total ban on the sale of cooked foods in the market and road side markets has been imposed by the Provincial Government. Many schools are also closing as the schools have banned the sale of the cooked food the children eat that has been prepared by mothers and sold in the school grounds at lunch time. This will be the hardest impact on the communities.
A survey on Sanitation has been done in the Bumbu settlement (one of the most affected) Most people use rain water for consumption. Most people go to the toilet in the river or the bush around the settlement. The settlement areas will be visited by health staff and chlorination of water stores will be done for free.
PMV (Public Motor Vehicle) owners are reluctant and afraid to take sick people (showing cholera symptoms) to ANGAU Hospital. This caused the late arrival of a patient to the CTU (Cholera Treatment Unit run by MSF) this morning. He died this afternoon. It is vital that the Health Centres in the settlement areas of Lae are 100% functional to receive cholera patients and avoid them the trip into town for medical assistance.

Updated Numbers:
ANGAU Hospital (Lae) reports 14 new cases of confirmed cholera admitted over the last 24 hours. This makes a total of 48 admitted cases with 4 deaths. There are currently 13 people admitted in the Field Hospital.
The village of Mou and Bua have reported 5 cases of suspected cholera.
Tewai-Siassi: 14 new cases of cholera over the last 24 hours. Eight new cases were brought in from Tobac, a community about 50 Km. away from the original 4 villages affected. Accumulative number of cholera cases: 132, total deaths 9.
Menyama: No reports come in today. Although the radio systems are operating properly there is little in terms of reports coming in from the field. The newspapers reported alarming number of cases of what they call “swine dysentery” but there is no confirmation of these cases (and no one knows what swine dysentery is).


The areas labelled in red are most affected at this time with the Bumbu river being the common link.

September 4:

Medicine Sans Frontiers, MSF (Doctors Without Borders) have set up with the help of the Defence Forces a Cholera Treatment Unit in 4 tents at ANGAU hospital and have flown in more specialist personnel. World Health Organisation have also sent specialists.
This is the first incident of Cholera in PNG and because of this there are not many people that know what cholera is and what to do about it.
Awareness notices and 'toksaves' are spreading the news about prevention around the city.
The FIVE 'F's will be hopefully known by everyone soon.
Fluids (care of safe water with boiling and treatment)
Food (dont eat uncooked food)
Fingers (washing of hands)
Feaces (sanitation methods)
Flies (spread of disease through flies)

Diseases in Menyama District, Morobe

Update as of Sept 10:
There have been 3995 cases of Flu reported with 59 deaths.
698 cases of Dysentery (20 in Huon district) with 38 deaths. This is from only the 25 villages that have been contacted by radio or health patrol visits. There are many more villages in Menyama District (approximate population of 69,000).
There are a number of health teams visiting now but still communication is hard due to terrain and cloud cover. The road is cut at Aseki with supplies being stockpiled there in anticipation of the road opening.
They say that the dysentery is the Shigella variety which is supposed to be the worst kind (I don't know if there are 'good dysentery' varieties!)

Update Sept 1:
Latest figures put the death toll at over 70 now.
More medicine cannot be flown in due to poor weather conditions and road deterioration.

Article in the National (Aug 24, 2009).
A mystery disease that 'spreads like wildfire' has killed 29 people in five villages in Morobe's Menyama district since last month. (as you can see in my 'general location map' that Menyama is a very remote part of PNG -actually Menyama is slightly to the West of my highlighted region)
Twelve have died in Akwange, fifteen in Ikunda and one in Lagai, all located in Kome LLG (local Level Government area).
They suffered sever headache, high fever, dysentery, sore throat, running nose and sneezing but the Menyama health centre only had medicines for normal flu.
Bina David (health centre manager) said it needed immediate government action.
Last Monday the Morobe health division officer was sent from Lae. He returned on Wednesday and on Friday a batch of drugs was sent to Menyama and then dispatched to the affected villages.
Mrs David said the roads and communication links in the area were poor and appealed for a specialist team to be stationed at Menyama. She feared more people would be affected.
(I have seen a picture of the main menyama road where the height of the 4WD is lower than the heights of the ruts on either side. The car was like it was driving down a small mud canyon.)

Girls Birthdays

Tiarna had her 10th birthday on June 22. Jenaya's 8th birthday was on July 30.

Mazz bought a cake for each. She just got the biggest cake on the list to take in to Tiarna's class (not expecting it to be too big) and it took three classes to get rid of most of it.

Jenaya's cake was smaller with experience and only needed one class to finish it off.

In between the two birthdays was Emily Schneider's 4th birthday.

Thailand Trip Part 5: Australia

After the Trip to Thailand I was not feeling the best with some episodes of Tachycardia. After spending nearly a day and a half at the Royal Brisbane, Women's Hospital I was sent home with a monitor on to record these small bursts of fast beats. By 7 o'clock on Monday night it was all over. (And no more since). Doctors can't explain it. Saw a cardiologist and he said to me that I always come and see him when nothing is wrong... had previous visit there in November 2007... different issue! hahaha

Before flying out to Thailand we had met some of our friends at Coolangatta for dinner. It is a very quick way to catch up but not especially easy on the weight reduction plan! We also met Sonya, Peta and the 'cousins' at Maccas.

Sonya, Simon, Peta

Jaxon, Ethan, Jenaya, Cooper, Kalon, Tiarna

On Wednesday on the way to the Cardiologist we had Hungry Jacks/Burger King for Breakfast as we got up very early to miss the traffic from Northern Brisbane to Tweed Heads by 8:45am. Met the Chilcotts (Marilyn's Mum and Dad, brother Geof and his wife Trudy) at Sizzler, Mermaid Waters. Then the Lewis kids with their families at Montezumas, Chermside for tea. Andrew and Kirsten are heading back to Germany for 6 weeks.
Man that was a day for the belly!

On Thursday night I went out with Jaco and some of his mates to bowling to help cheer up on of their friends... who didn't actually make it there!
If you got a strike you could wear a "I'm too Sexy" tie and if you missed all pins or got a gutter ball you had to hold a wooden spoon and wear a shower cap!
This explains the following!


On Friday, I went into the city and got a computer for ADRA PNG so we can edit our own movies/DVD productions.

Flew out Saturday morning to PNG. You would not believe it but all the connections were either on time or left a little early... first time ever for us!
Arrived home in Lae at 5:30 Saturday night.