Samoa tsunami: Has aid been used effectively?

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Mon, 27 Sep 2010 7:00p.m.

It is nearly a year since a massive earthquake sent a devastating tsunami crashing over Samoa’s shores.

At least 143 people were killed and more than 4000 displaced.

New Zealanders were moved by the disaster and dug deep to help – giving over $20 million.

In total the international community gave the Samoan government over $190 million in donations and financial aid. That’s more than NZD$107 million.

That figure doesn’t include the millions donated to non-government organisations, specialist services and containers of food, goods and materials sent from around the world.

An estimated $190 million was needed to mend the damage caused by the tsunami – a disaster that affected just 2.5 percent of Samoa’s population.

Campbell Live visited the island of Upolo last week. The area stretches from Lepa around the coast, through Lalomanu to the Satitoa coastline.

People here used to live on the coast, but their fear of the sea has driven many of them away and into the hills.

Life has changed.

Watch John Campbell’s report

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Comments

16 Nov 2010 11:46p.m.

Angry Samoan wrote:

Go Campbell, The right thing should be done the PM is a coward and is hidding somthing from us so good on you campbell for going out there and finding out the truth.

16 Nov 2010 10:45a.m.

Samoa moni wrote:

O oe clair bell. e sao ai Fonti...a le malamalama ile valea, aua le kaukala male pipilo o le ea...ga ole pililima o le ufa ma kapugi le guku...

15 Nov 2010 02:59p.m.

claire bell wrote:

Disgusting Samoan: you need to shut your mouth Fonti or else i can shut for you..we have to raise money to finish my family's damage home during tsunami time in Aleipata..for the PM & his lies and all of his aikupe administration, Samoa should go back the old days of hanging those ass that disgrace the dignity of our land and his people. glad Samoan are talking about this matter, we shouldn't be blinded by their ignorant and greedy..there will be a penalty for those loving people sending money to assist our people during their loss and hurt. I would like to see Sailele & those that shared the fund to be prosecuted for their action..there are millions of Samoan with tremendous education to support John Campbell and his company to bring this out in the open..you can run but you cant hide fool..Sailele only give $10,000 tala in material to rebuild homes of the infestated area, and he pocket the rest,, sei vave ona pe lea pogaua aikupe,, those that like to kiss his fat ass. your time come to sit in jail where you belong..hater

13 Nov 2010 08:06p.m.

FONTI wrote:

All you people who cant understand the Government are sick and stupid..sorry but the Government and Prime Minister wont waste time reading trash and garbage coming from you...read and you will understand the truth about Governments transparency and accountability of pledge funds used which International Financial Agencies like World Bank, ADB and so forth are saying about PM and Government...so please people, if you dont understand, its best you all shut up and save the environment from your breath pollution...

04 Nov 2010 12:54p.m.

ANNOYED SAMOAN! wrote:

To the people who are defending the PM & Samoan Govt what planet are you from?people from all over the world dug deep to donate to samoa and our people who were affected by the Tsunami - so we all have a RIGHT to know where the money was spent!! Thank goodness Campbell and crew brought this to the media - how long can they steal from their people and go about things in a crooked way!! God see's all! So no matter how hard they try and hide this from the world, it will come out eventually!There is no point trying to defend him and his crooked govt dept because after campbells story - EVERYONE KNOWS WHO GOT MOST OF THE AID $$ - THE PM, THE DPM,THE SAMOAN GOVT AND OF COURSE THE PMS CLOSE CIRCLE OF FAMILY & FRIENDS AND HIS VILLAGE! COMPARE THERE HOUSES TO ALL THE OTHER VILLAGES THAT WERE AFFECTED BY THE TSUNAMI! STOP TALKING SMACK AND DEFENDING A MAN WHO DOESNT GIVE A RATS ASS ABOUT HIS OWN PEOPLE!!!! THAT IS ALL!

03 Nov 2010 12:14p.m.

esta wrote:

Good on you Campbell Live!

03 Nov 2010 09:10a.m.

Christine wrote:

The Samoan PM and Deputy PM, try to use complicated words that they can't even understand what the hell they talking about. I pissed off that we work our ass off and donate money to help the people back in Samoa. And this fatass PM and his crusty party have been eating the rest of the fund money up.

02 Nov 2010 09:42p.m.

Pez wrote:

i am embarassed to know that both deputy and PM are both dumb founded and stupid with their answers regarding the question "where is the relief money?" do we really have idiots running that small island? The relief aid money is solely for the tsunami victims affected and nothing else... thats what it's sole purpose was for not to fund that government or their families...how dare that fat man they call PM take something thats not his!!!! so embarassed!!!

02 Nov 2010 11:17a.m.

delo wrote:

The point really is where the HELL is all the money gone too??? People who work, pay taxes, donated their money HAVE a right to ask!! Im half samoan and I was sooo disgusted to see the news last night im so glad Campbell asked questions that we all are too afraid of asking. I hope they are investigating this in more detail because this just makes people NOT want to donate any money to any funds If the government is doing this its not right and obviously no morals!!!

14 Oct 2010 10:01a.m.

Tili wrote:

I hope Mr Campbell will hold another show to correct the information that he has conveyed to the public. What he didn't correctly state in his show is that his estimated figure of $190million tala includes donations in project form not budget form. Secondly, he overlooked the recovery plan which shows a figure of $61million tala - by saying that there's $100million tala unaccounted for. It is clearly stated on said page that the $61million tala is the recovery budget plan for one year. The recovery period is 4 years. So I really hope that Mr Campbell will set his records straight and get his facts and reports on his show correct. Perhaps you should have interviewed NZ Aid and AUS Aid in addition to the few random families that you've interviewed on your show.