Transcript
PETER KORISA: There's no programme at this stage for the evacuees having moved to Maewo and Santo, to return back to Ambae. I think people until then they are not to enter Ambae until the state of emergency lapse. So their properties, their gardening is still there on Ambae.
JENNY MEYER: So there's increasing concern that we've heard about their crops and animals, will they be allowed back at the end of November? What's the situation have you planned for their return?
PK: For people to return back after 26 November it's still uncertain. I mean it's not clear until we are clear with the information from Geohazards about volcanic activity so we can therefore make a decision.
JM: We understand that the displaced Ambae people also are really quite worried about the oncoming cyclone season. Many of them are still living under tarpaulins and are exposed to the rain and cold, you know when the weather's bad. Can you tell me what's happening there in terms of their accommodation?
PK: I can tell you I think that's a good question and it's also a big challenge for us. I think we understand and acknowledge the people living under the tents and tarps, a few have managed to build themselves a better shelter. We are trying to negotiate with two communities and chiefs, the chiefly system, to liaise with the local communities around Santo and Maewo in case anything happens during the cyclone season then we might use the local buildings, community buildings, churches, schools and community halls.
JM: What's happening to the emergency funding there?
PK: It's not really a big amount of budget where we can cover the whole sector, like agriculture and.. We can only, government can only use a portion of it to address other sectors. But our priority at this stage is more to look at addressing the food security. Because those people are being moving out from their places and they need their support in terms of food.
JM: Just finally what would be your main message to the people of Ambae who are currently displaced, they're cold, they're hungry, they just want to go home, what's your message to them?
PK: My message to them is just to keep patient some time and then to work with the government and their host community so that we can you know find some solution. How we can stay until when the level really taken down to level one and then they can return back. At this stage, level two is not safe for them. So we have to continue to remain on the evacuation relocation sites until such a time that the level drops and then they can return back.
