World Vision Provides Water Relief In Samoa

Tiny water purification tablets are making a big difference in tsunami-devastated areas of Samoa.

World Vision has flown in 32,000 of the life-saving tablets from its emergency preparedness warehouse in Brisbane as concern over the lack of safe water in stricken communities escalates.

World Vision’s Logistic expert Jamie Newton who will be working with the Samoan Government’s National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) to distribute the supplies in the villages of….has seen the need on the ground firsthand.

“The tsunami has contaminated water supplies in the stricken villages,” he said.

“Families have been left with little safe drinking water and this is putting people, particularly the most vulnerable such as the children, as risk of drinking contaminated water and being seriously infected with related diseases.”

The water purification tablets are being distributed as part of an estimated NZ$60,000 World Vision operation to provide a raft of essential items to those left in urgent need.

Hygiene kits, mosquito nets, tarps and blankets are also among the items being distributed.

Last Wednesday’s (Sept 30) tsunami which brought waves of up to six metres high is reported to have claimed the lives of 135 people and affected a further15,000 in Samoa.

World Vision New Zealand launched it’s first ever Asia-Pacific Emergency Fund last week following the Tsunami and an unprecedented number of other natural disasters across the region.

New Zealanders can donate to the Asia-Pacific Emergency Fund by calling 0800 80 2000 or logging on to www.worldvision.org.nz.

Alternatively people can choose to give just to World Vision’s Pacific Tsunami appeal if they prefer.