Islanders rebuilding lives after tide damages homes

By LORRAINE JIMAL
MORE than 300 people from Kali Island in Manus are starting to rebuild after the damage caused by recent king tides.
Local spokesman Lyndsay Mundri said the king tides had receded and the people had begun the process of rebuilding damaged homes and structures, making new gardens, digging water wells and building sea walls.
Kali is approximately two hours west of Lorengau town.
“Since the king tides and spring tides hit the island last month the local level government came and got the reports, people filled forms but they never updated us on how they would assist us,” he said.
Mundri said the islanders were still waiting on a response from authorities but had started slowly rebuilding what they could.
“We don’t know for how long we are going to wait for the assistance, whether it will come or not but the sea has slowly gone down,” he said.
Mundri said the king tide had damaged homes, gardens and contaminated fresh water sources.
He said the islanders were relaying on tank water and whatever food they could find or catch in the sea.
National Disaster Office director Col Karl Wrakonei said that the two national assessment teams that visited Manus and East Sepik had returned last week after successfully completing the assessments.
“They are now compiling their reports which should be ready this week,” he said.
“The centre will provide an update of the plans and way forward to help the (affected) people this week.”