13 Dec 2009

Red Cross continues work in Samoa

6:29 am on 13 December 2009

The Red Cross is to continue emergency operation efforts in tsunami-hit Samoa for another 14 months.

An earthquake on 29 September triggered the big waves in the Pacific, killing 143 people in Samoa, 34 in American Samoa and nine in Tonga.

Samoan Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi has announced that the distribution of relief supplied by the country's Disaster Management Office has been completed.

The health co-ordinator for the Red Cross in Samoa, Goretti Wulf, says many families are still without water and the organisation is helping local people to build lavatories and restore plumbing and drainage systems.

Ms Wulf says overseas aid will still be distributed by donors and their local agents.

The reconstruction of roads and the restoration of water supply and electricity is continuing, along with the rebuilding of more than 600 homes.