Need Help for Utulaelae Village Please

That’s simply what the sign says. Utulaelae is one of the villages in Falealili District together with Poutasi and many others. It lies south of Upolu consisting of 166 members. It’s one of the many villages that were destroyed by the tsunami disaster on 29th September 2009. People hardly knew about this village because it’s over 3 kilometres from the main road and the road leading to it is very narrow and dusty.

A few of the villagers were injured and most of the properties were destroyed. They’ve put up this sign for all aid workers to know that they also need help. Caritas Samoa has checked out the place and they’ve distributed water and food among the villagers.

Need Help for Utulaelae Village Please (photo credit: Christina Mareko)

Children from the devastated village of Satitoa play cricket with materials collected from the debris. Caritas is providing their village with food, water, clothes and shelter.

Kirsty Robertson, Caritas Australia Pacific Program Coordinator writing from Samoa.