On September 29, 2009, an 8.3-magnitude earthquake caused a tsunami that claimed 184 lives in the Pacific Islands of Samoa, American Samoa, and Tonga. It was the deadliest disaster in the history of Samoa – a country with a population of 188,000 – and a date that Samoans say “will live in the heart of Samoa forever.” Many of you have emailed Kiva, concerned about the particular person you have lent to. Please know it was very touching for those here in Samoa. It has been heartwarming and comforting to see so much support.
As a Kiva Fellow with South Pacific Business Development (SPBD), Kiva’s Field Partner serving entrepreneurs in Samoa, I have seen first-hand SPBD’s non-stop work since the disaster to
assess the extent of the tsunami’s damage and to organize both a short- and long-term aid effort for tsunami victims. It has been hectic to continue normal operations while conducting an emergency relief effort, but I can proudly say that SPBD has been one of the leaders of a group of international organizations brought together by the United Nations to head the aid effort in Samoa. Here is an update from the ground:
The Aftermath
Fortunately, none of SPBD’s borrowers have lost
their lives. Out of over 5,000 borrowers, 143 have lost their homes and businesses and an unfortunate few have lost multiple family members. Children and the elderly, the most vulnerable demographic, made up a large part of the death toll. The tsunami’s effects on Samoa’s infrastructure and economy are still unraveling. In one village, women report that their bakery sales have decreased by 20% because the school where they usually sold their goods is temporarily closed. Shop owners have seen their consumer base disappear along with tourism.
The businesses affected most by the tsunami are plantations, shops, and fishing operations. Beachfront plantations were reduced to brown reeds and others located further inland were damaged by salt water. Demolished tourist shops have only the concrete foundation remaining. Those who fished for a livelihood have seen their nets washed away and their canoes broken.
The silver lining in the wake of all this destruction is that it was limited. The tsunami hit the touristy southeast coast of Samoa and spared Apia, the capital. At 7 a.m., when the disaster struck, most Samoans were awake and in the middle of morning chores. Uninhabited islands and reefs shielded some villages from the full brunt of the wave. Overall, less than 5% of SPBD’s portfolio was affected by the tsunami.
In the week following the tsunami, I traveled to the villages where SPBD’s borrowers were affected. The stories of survival and loss are incredible. One woman recalled how she woke up surrounded by water and grabbed a wooden panel to float to safety. She did not feel the earthquake when it struck. Another woman told of holding on to a doorknob while gushing water pushed her off her feet. The force of the wave ripped some people’s clothes off. Most Samoans, however, were able to run uphill to safety, only to watch helplessly as the water swept their belongings out to sea. Most of the Samoans I met are still in shock. They say little, which is unusual for a culture famed for long speeches!
Below are a couple of stories from SPBD women that I had the opportunity to speak with:
Fiataua Loto
Fiataua Loto is a pretty 31-year-old whose house on Manono Island was located a few feet from the shoreline. Before the tsunami, her house was an idyllic spot, with the Pacific as a backyard. She had just used her second loan from SPBD to renovate her house. But now, her home is reduced to rubble and her fishing nets and canoes have also been washed away.
Fishing was Fiataua’s main source of income. Fishing three times a week typically allowed Fiataua to save 100 talas per week. She now estimates that it will cost 20,000 talas to rebuild her house. Though Fiataua has experienced a heavy loss, her spirit remains strong. “I’m angry at the wave, sad that I lost my house, but thankful that I have my three children and family. I won’t forget what happened, but it isn’t going to change the way I live.”
Ruta Sao
Ruta Sao lives in Saleapaga, a coastal village that was decimated by the tsunami. Thirteen of SPBD’s borrowers in Saleapaga have lost their homes. The village can now be found interspersed among the bushy outgrowth in the hills, where some of it was cleared for plantations. Sadly, Ruta lost four of her children during the tsunami, but her two remaining children can still be seen playing in the sun.
Ruta has set up a makeshift shelter (a tarp held up by wooden poles) next to her plantation, a quarter of a mile away from the other plantations. Due to her shelter’s distance away from the beach, Ruta was unable to receive relief aid until two days after the tsunami struck Samoa. It was only after driving around and asking villagers that we were able to find her. Amazingly, Ruta was ready to make her weekly loan repayment to SPBD. She now plans to rebuild her home inland away from the beach.
Help is On the Way
On October 9 and 10, SPBD distributed an aid package to each of the borrowers who had lost a home or business to the tsunami. Each package contained basic items such as water, tinned fish, rice, toiletries, buckets, tableware, mosquito coils, and a bush knife (the most popular item!) along with 150 Tala (spending power of approximately $75 in the U.S.) to buy other necessities. Each aid package totaled 400 talas, more than a month’s salary for underprivileged Samoans. The women were all very excited and appreciative for this assistance.
In the next several weeks, SPBD will roll out a larger relief effort for all of the victims of the tsunami. They have committed over 100,000 talas to this initiative and have brought in two consultants to help with the relief projects. In addition to offering each of the 143 affected clients an additional 1,000 tala loan, SPBD will be experimenting with a cash-for-work program that will hire tsunami victims in community clean-up and reconstruction projects. Not only will this initiative put money into the pockets of those who have lost their homes and businesses, but it will also pump back money into the local community.
Samoa will recover from the tsunami. Plantations can be replanted and regrown in 6 months. A fale – the typical Samoan home – can be rebuilt in days, though Samoans will probably want to use sturdier materials in the reconstruction of their houses. Most of the tourist resorts have announced plans to rebuild. However, it remains to be seen when the tourism industry – which accounts for about 25% of Samoa’s gross domestic product – will come back. The prime minister has pledged that Samoans will never forget what has happened and will learn the lessons of the tsunami.
In the upcoming weeks, I will try to speak with each affected Kiva borrower and share their stories. Out of the 143 SPBD borrowers affected, 36 are currently on Kiva and 42 others have previously been posted on Kiva (as of October 14).
Listed below are the women with active loans on Kiva:
| | Name | Status |
| 1 | Silia Oa | No House |
| 2 | Nora Taleni | No House |
| 3 | Koreti Potoi | No House |
| 4 | Alofa Saupo | No House |
| 5 | Solema Ese | No House |
| 6 | Kalameli Tiligo | No House |
| 7 | Salaevalu Matila | No House |
| 8 | Kiona Levasa Pela | No House |
| 9 | Soonalote Tuigamala | No House |
| 10 | Satelite Falanaipupu | No House |
| 11 | Mamaioa Nuuali | No House |
| 12 | Mu Pato | No House |
| 13 | Samalaulu Vaa | No House |
| 14 | Maseiga Iosua | No House |
| 15 | Laumoe Seuala | No House, Badly Injured |
| 16 | Talaleu Toafa | No House |
| 17 | Sosefina Taupega | No House |
| 18 | Tae Pologa | No House |
| 19 | Sefau Kaisa | No House |
| 20 | Makerita Tootoo | No House, No Business |
| 21 | Iemaima Peni | No House, No Business |
| 22 | Loimata Ioapo | No House, Lost tourist fale, but still has plantation |
| 23 | Ato Ailaulau | No House, No Business |
| 24 | Iloa Tovia | No House |
| 25 | Soo Lefale | No House |
| 26 | Lemapu Fialua | No House |
| 27 | Veronika Silipa | No House |
| 28 | Soo Perise Maulolo | No House |
| 29 | Faalaeiau Tauailoto | No House |
| 30 | Folole Tanuvasa Lefao | No House, No Business |
| 31 | Pele Faasisila | No House |
| 32 | Suati Lima | No House |
| 33 | Otilia Ulu | No House |
| 34 | Elena Pasina | Furniture/Kitchenware/Clothes lost |
| 35 | Iuni Siaosi | No Fishing Boat |
| 36 | Olataga Faapito | No House |
Listed below are the women with loans that have ended on Kiva:
| | Name | Status |
| 1 | Iloga Niko | No House |
| 2 | Siulepa Sakalaia | No House |
| 3 | Tauala Feagai Sale | No House |
| 4 | Meleseke Tagaloa | Furniture/Kitchenware/Clothes lost |
| 5 | Vaioalisi Faaiuga | No House, No Fishing Boat |
| 6 | Fiataua Loto | No House, No Fishing Boat |
| 7 | Faanimo Togitasi | No House |
| 8 | Fofoa Meleisea | No House |
| 9 | Maota Asasa | No House |
| 10 | Falanika Nuu | No House, No Business |
| 11 | Noela Alataua | No House |
| 12 | Vitolina Fiaaiti | No House |
| 13 | Mele Popea | No House |
| 14 | Alataua Mefi | No House |
| 15 | Faisealofa Puletiuatoa | No House |
| 16 | Faia Muavae | No House |
| 17 | Lematea Anapu | Furniture/Kitchenware/Clothes lost |
| 18 | Pua Laga | No House, No Fishing Boat |
| 19 | Talita Alaivaa Foleni | No House |
| 20 | Talaleu Maota | No House |
| 21 | Tivalo Vaa | No House |
| 22 | Faletaulupe Lui Paulo | No House |
| 23 | Nina Pati | No Business |
| 24 | Patisepa Neli | Furniture/Kitchenware/Clothes lost |
| 25 | Seutaatia Unasa | Furniture/Kitchenware/Clothes lost |
| 26 | Talele Mua | Furniture/Kitchenware/Clothes lost |
| 27 | Potoae Unasa | Furniture/Kitchenware/Clothes lost |
| 28 | Tuli Faia | No House, No Business |
| 29 | Olovesi Tafeaga | No House |
| 30 | Pogisa Frazer | No House |
| 31 | Palolo Mainuuoti | No House |
| 32 | Sieraseta Fiu | No House |
| 33 | Ana Samoa | No House |
| 34 | Alofa Fili | No House |
| 35 | Faalua Pata | No House |
| 36 | Fofoa Gasolo | No House |
| 37 | Moegau Soamauli | Furniture/Kitchenware/Clothes lost |
| 38 | Akenese Pauli Afoa | No House |
| 39 | Pepe Levaai | No House |
| 40 | Seaga Faatoe | No House |
| 41 | Amia Suafai | No House, No Business |
| 42 | Toeafe Tiatia | No House |
For SPBD’s perspective on the tsunami and its relief efforts, see the blog of Greg Casagrande, the founder of SPBD, on MercyCorps
here.
You can join SPBD’s lending team on Kiva
here.
Kiva plans to post some of the 1,000-tala calamity loans for tsunami victims on its website
here. Please check back at a later date to help fund these and other new loans for borrowers in Samoa.
Also, check out Agnes Chu's latest post on the Kiva Fellows Blog
here.
- Agnes Chu is a Kiva Fellow who arrived (safely) in Samoa on September 30, the day after a tsunami devastated the area, for a 3 month assignment with Kiva Field Partner South Pacific Business Development (SPBD).