Food drive scheduled to aid Samoan islands

By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer

A relief effort for the residents of the storm-ravaged Samoan islands is being organized here in hopes of filling two cargo containers with food by Jan. 26.

Gus Hannemann, a legislative liaison for American Samoa, said officials still are assessing the damage from tropical Cyclone Heta to his island home of 70,000 people, who are eligible to receive federal disaster aid.

"I've heard that there's a lot of debris, and some of the phones are starting to come back," he said. "But the other Samoa is an independent country, and they're going to have to find funds elsewhere."

The twin islands of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa and home to 200,000, are the bigger worry, he said. Many homes are the more easily toppled traditional "fale" structures, Hannemann said, and the population depends on crops destroyed by the storm that struck Sunday and continued on to batter the tiny Pacific Island state of Niue on Tuesday.

As a result, stores are expected to be exhausted quickly, which is why relief work is focused on gathering non-perishable food, not money, said Hannemann. He is collaborating the effort with Soloali'i Fa'alepo of the American Samoa governor's office in Honolulu.

Rice, canned goods, dry saimin, and bottled water are among the products being sought. Two PMNO Lines containers have been donated by the cargo carrier, which also has waived fees for transporting the food, he said. Also, the labor support organization Unity House has offered to secure warehouse space to store the food, he added.

Meanwhile, the American Samoa office here will house contributions; donors should call the office at 847-1998, or Hannemann at 375-7800, to arrange pickup.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reach Vicki Viotti at vviotti@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8053.