TARAWA, 18 JANUARY 2019 (RADIO KIRIBATI) – Kiribati Government’s Emergency Response and Assessment Team has returned to Tarawa after visiting the two most affected islands of Tamana and Arorae to survey the destruction of the recent storm surges that hit the two islands earlier this month.
The team comprised officials from the Office of Te Beretitenti, Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy, Ministry of Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Kiribati Police Service and the Kiribati Red Cross Society.
The team traveled on the patrol boat RKS Te Anoai with relief supplies of rice, flour, tinned food, fruits, vegetables, blankets and tarpaulins donated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Kiribati Red Cross Society and the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM).
The team reported many damaged seawalls and flooded houses and Government has mobilised resources to assist families affected.
Severely affected communities on South Tarawa and Betio have been assisted with building materials to rebuild seawalls ad fill up flooded areas with reef materials. Outer islands seawalls were also assisted by mobilising cements that are available on islands to rectify damaged community seawalls.
Meanwhile, the island of Nikunau was also affected by the recent storm surges at the beginning of this month.
One of the island’s Member of Parliament, Rimeta Beniamina told Radio Kiribati news, 41 sites have been affected by the storm stretching from Tabomatang to Muribenua villages, which includes four KUC missionaries residences at Tabomatang, Mwanriki, Tabutoa and Muribenua, two Catholic’s catechists’ houses on Nikumau and Mwanriki, one of the council’s worker’s kitchen and 34 residential homes.
He said most of the affected were homes close to coastal areas.
At least 40 coconut trees, pandanus, banana, papaya and other food crops were also destroyed.
20 local households such as toilets, kitchens, and others, including a kava bar in Nikumanu village have been damaged by the storm.
Beniamina said 21 sea walls have been affected and five wells have been inundated by seawater rendering the unsafe for the local community.
