10 Jun 2010

Schools to reopen in Futuna after Cyclone Tomas

3:06 pm on 10 June 2010

Rebuilding efforts continue in Futuna after the massive destruction caused by Cyclone Tomas in March.

The French territory lost about 80 percent of its crops, leaving its 4,000 inhabitants dependent on supplies from the outside.

A spokesperson for the office co-ordinating the relief efforts from nearby Wallis says rebuilding is going smoothly and things are returning to normal.

Benjamin Gerard says Wallis has been sending food to Futuna, with the help of military staff, and schoolchildren are finally returning to the classroom.

"There are many schools who have been really affected by the cyclone and that's the fact schools haven't been reopened. And a protocol has been signed recently and heavy construction work are taking right now and schools are supposed to resume the coming week."

Benjamin Gerard.

The French overseas territories minister, Marie-Luce Penchard, said last month that more than 700,000 US dollars had been allocated to the Futuna relief effort.