More than 3000 people have now been infected with the disease and doctors say the death toll is likely to rise.

George Fa'alogo, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand's (CANZ) humanitarian coordinator, is in close contact with Caritas Samoa.

He says, "We're at a loss to describe the impact of this outbreak, especially for those families who have lost more than one child.'

He said CANZ would continue to support Caritas Samoa so they may continue their outreach work in these communities.

Caritas Samoa has been collecting supplies such as food, clothing, hand sanitiser, bed sheets, pillows, towels and medical face masks for hospitals, clinics and families.

They are also mobilising volunteers to put together family packages of these supplies that patients and their families can pick up from donation stations outside of hospitals and clinics.

Samoa declared a state of emergency on November 15 and a mass vaccination campaign was activated soon after.

The government has announced its intention to make immunisation compulsory.

Schools have been closed, and children under the age of 17 have been banned from public gatherings.

On Saturday the streets of Apia were virtually empty.

Many in the community are tracing the current epidemic back to the deaths of two babies on July 6 last year.

At Tuasivi hospital, two nurses had mixed the wrong liquid with MMR vaccines.

The deaths provoked widespread fear and confusion among parents - and a great deal of mistrust of vaccinations.

Temporary clinics have been set up across the country to provide vaccinations and to treat people who are showing symptoms of measles.

Almost 45,000 people have now received the measles vaccine.

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, together with Caritas Australia and Catholic Relief Services, are sending a solidarity grant to Caritas Samoa to assist them in their work.

The funding will help in the collection and distribution of essential supplies.

It will also provide transportation for medical professionals and mobile clinics to vaccinate people in rural areas.

You can support Caritas' relief efforts for emergencies such as this by donating to their Pacific Relief Fund on our website:

Source

• Supplied: Amanda Gregan
  Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand
• tvnz.co.nz
• stuff.co.nz
• rnz.co.nz
• Image: stuff.co.nz

The award was one of a number made by the LDS to organisations, church members and government ministries in recognition of community services they have provided.

"On behalf of the Caritas Samoa, we give our sincere and humble thanks to President Jason Joseph and the Apia Samoa Central Stake for this Special Award for Caritas Samoa," said Ah Wai.

She said receiving the award provided an amazing opportunity to create more awareness and advocacy programmes not only for disaster but for health, education and youth.

"This will create a strong networking with our lead Government Ministries through our programmes," Ah Wai said.

Caritas Samoa was founded in February 2008 and became a fully-fledged member of Caritas Internationalis in 2011.

The organisation has been working to strengthen the communities' disaster risk awareness, with joint training being held with Red Cross across the country.

It has also worked with communities in urban Apia and in a coastal village to relocate them away from areas where there are regular flooding or erosion issues.

As part of their efforts to resolve the issues for people in these communities, they are raising awareness, helping people develop options and working out long-term plans for a sustainable way of life in their new homes.

Caritas Samoa works in close partnership with international relief organisations, as well as the Samoan government's National Disaster Management Office to provide assistance and training where needed.

Apart from its work on emergency response, Caritas Samoa also assists low-income families by providing food and clothing, by promoting capacity building initiatives for women and helping with the improvement of rural waters supplies.

Caritas Samoa also takes part in peace and reconciliation at a grassroots level by improving relations between students in schools where there is unrest.

There are more than 200 volunteers who are registered to be part of Caritas Samoa.

Source

• Samoa Observer
• Tui Motu
• Caritas
• Image: Samoa Observer

"Apart from the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints and the Seventh Day Adventist Church, the other mainline churches - as well as the so-called charismatic churches - have been relatively quiet," said Mata'afa Keni Lesa.

The editorial provides comments from a number of readers claiming the mainstream churches have been doing little to support communities that have been affected by the cyclone.

Samoa's Council of Churches has dismissed public criticism. The council's general secretary, Reverend Maauga Motu, says many denominations, including Catholic, Methodist and Congregational churches, are helping out with relief efforts.

"We are among the leaders who are sorting out the most ruined people. And they are giving out monetary gifts to them, the amounts to help them with their rebuilding (of) their churches and the houses for the people. They are doing this for everyone who was devastated, food as well. They are giving out money, food, clothes and the prayer."

Earlier press releases from the Catholic aid agency, Caritas, said efforts were being made in New Zealand and locally to support communities that had been affected by the cyclone.
Source

• The Samoa Observer
• Radio New Zealand International
• Image: Mormonnewsroom.org.nz

Puletini Tuala says 20 people are missing, more than 4,500 people are in evacuation centres (with over 300 people in Caritas-supported centres) and over 4,000 homes have been destroyed.

"This is worse than the 2009 tsunami, much worse," said Tuala as he described the significant damage, including the powerful surge of water from the damaged dam.

"The river has overflowed; I've never seen so many cars buried under debris and on top of homes."

Sanitation is desperately needed for evacuation centres; however the situation is improving. Tanks have been delivered and are being filled with water; port-a-loos have been installed, and engineers are connecting tanks to toilets.

Caritas is also supplying food, water and basic assistance to hundreds of people who have lost their homes and are staying with friends or relatives in the local area.

"People's immediate needs are food, water, sanitation and shelter," said Tuala. "Caritas can care for up to 400 people in centres for the next 2-3 weeks. After this time, we will need to build shelters and homes for them.

"On Saturday morning we sent out trucks with tarpaulins and hygiene kits, among other things. Luckily the houses we built after the last tsunami were standing strong, and their water tanks were intact.

"Altogether we have responded to 2,000 families (with 6-8 people in each family)."

Caritas Samoa is also distributing clean water to those in need. The organisation has water containers pre-positioned for emergencies where people can get refills easily.

Source

• NewsPad Pacific.Info

• Image: 3News

'As soon as the cyclone hit, we opened our hall for immediate shelter for neighbouring families who had discovered their homes were uninhabitable,´ said Caritas Samoa Director Puletini Tuala. 'Cyclone Evan battered our mainland and left us with no power. We initially did not have a generator for the evacuation centre but secured one on Saturday. Since the lighting has been available we noticed an influx in families coming to seek shelter and support.'

'We are not sure how long shelter will be required. The need could go on for several weeks meaning that families will be here right through Christmas and into the new year period. It is an anxious time for us all,' said Mr Tuala.

Samoan authorities have confirmed four people are dead and eight missing after Cyclone Evan hit Samoa late last week. Most of the damage is in the downtown and suburban areas of Apia. Power and water supplies have been severely disrupted, and initial reports estimate more than 1000 homes destroyed.

Caritas Samoa has also distributed emergency relief items from six pre-positioned containers - four on the main island of Upolu, and two on Savai'i. Equipment such as hygiene kits, jerry cans, tarpaulins and kitchen sets has helped families establish temporary shelter and homes.

Despite their own concerns, Mr Tuala passed on messages of solidarity for neighbouring Pacific islands that also face the destructive power of the cyclone. Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has been in contact with Caritas Tonga, where there are no reports of damage at this stage.

The category four cyclone is currently hitting Fiji, where at least 37 evacuation centres are holding more than 3500 people in the north. Power was lost just after 11am this morning. It also impacted the territory of Wallis and Futuna, and Caritas Oceania agencies are attempting to make contact to assess the extent of damage.

Caritas agencies in the Pacific are mobilising to provide cyclone relief and assistance to thousands of people in Samoa, Fiji and elsewhere affected by Cyclone Evan.

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has launched an Appeal for Pacific Cyclone Relief, and is committing an initial NZ$15,000 towards emergency relief in Samoa

'We will continue to monitor the impact of the cyclone in the region, and respond through our partners and networks on the ground as they inform us of their needs,' said Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand Director Julianne Hickey.

Donations to the Caritas Pacific Cyclone Appeal can be made by:
Phoning 0800 22 10 22 to make credit card donations or
Donating online using a credit card at www.caritas.org.nz or
Posting to Caritas, PO Box 12193, Thorndon, Wellington 6144, New Zealand.

The gathering was an opportunity for all mothers to make money from their creations, says Caritas' Communication Officer, Christina Mareko. "The programme started in 2008 and we conducted seminars and training for mothers in the villages," she says. This is the first time they have come together in one spot to market their goods. It's great especially during the week that we are celebrating their special day."

The Market day was held over three days.

Caritas Samoa helps people with low incomes by providing food and clothing. It also takes part in peace and reconciliation on a grassroots level by improving relations between students in schools where there is unrest. Caritas Samoa intends to boost its work with young people by establishing a centre where young people can meet, learn and interact, and by giving encouragement to young people who dedicate their lives to the Church.

Source
Samoaobserver.ws

Image: Savali