Islanders rebuild shattered world

Alama and Malakesi Puna, both 5, have relocated inland with their family from the village of Malaela, on Upolu's south coast. Photo / Jane Ussher (for Oxfam)

Half a year after giant waves destroyed villages and killed dozens of people, the grass has regrown and village life has been restored.

On the morning of September 29 last year, an 8.3-magnitude earthquake in the Pacific triggered a tsunami which tore through villages in Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga.

Almost 200 people were killed, most of them from villages on the southern coast of Upolu island in Samoa.

Villages including Lalomanu, Saleapaga, Ulutogia, Poutasi, Lepa and Saleaumua looked as if they had been burned to the ground.

Piles of rubble covered the streets and the land was left looking stale and parched.

But six months has passed and village life is once again back on track, with roads cleared and houses rebuilt.

Oxfam New Zealand has been among the dozens of international organisations that have been in Samoa since last September, helping thousands of people affected by the tsunami.

Samoan programme co-ordinator Jon Shepherd said that with the help of the New Zealand public, the Government and other organisations, Oxfam had been able to contribute up to $1 million towards the rebuilding of water and sanitation facilities in devastated areas.

Twelve 5000-litre communal water tanks have been installed in villages along Upolu's southern coast, which will benefit about 200 people.

About 150 families have also been given materials to build their own rainwater-gathering systems, including guttering and spouting.

Livelihood programmes helping villagers to make the most of organic planting and craft-making skills - to give them their own source of food and earn them a living - have also been set up to help families.

"It's not just [about giving] general money," Mr Shepherd said. "It's about sustainable living - giving them something for life."

The Samoan Government has given up to $18,000 worth of materials to each family whose house was destroyed.

Dozens of houses have already been built and running water and electricity are slowly being connected to newly established villages, such as Saleapaga, where many villagers vowed never to live near the sea again out of fear of another tsunami.

Instead, they have set up their new homes in the hills, behind their old village.

Kupa Engineering and Water is one of the companies in Samoa contracted by Habitat for Humanity NZ to help build up to 120 homes.

Project manager Latu S. Kupa said families had persevered through tragedy and were now rebuilding their lives.

"The grass is back and green again. It's back to normal," Mr Kupa said.

"People are starting to build their lives again. The families feel good because they're developing their own [new] lives again and it's rewarding," he said.

Up to 54 homes had been built solely by volunteers - many of them from New Zealand - who regularly travel as part of relief aid/volunteer programmes.

Mr Kupa said the resilience shown by many Samoan people after the tsunami was a reflection of the help that continues to come from all over the world.