The first two of more than 400 homes to be built along the South Coast of Upolu, Samoa, which was hit hard by the tsunami of Tuesday 29th September 2009. Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity NZ.

Habitat for Humanity New Zealand sent us these latest photos  of Samoa’s reconstruction programme.  Since this photo was taken, those two homes are now completed.  Official death toll lists more than 140 people dead in Samoa with hundreds of homes destroyed leaving thousands homeless on Tuesday 29th September this year, after a destructive tsunami swept through the South Coast of Upolu. American Samoa and the Tongan island of Niuatoputapu were also badly hit killing more then 40 people.

Habitat for Humanity NZ volunteer builders working with local families affected by the tsunami to rebuild one of the homes. Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity NZ.

The New Zealand-based NGO are project managing the construction of more than 400 homes for families, in Samoa 90 percent government funded, along the South Coast of Upolu in Samoa whose fales or homes were destroyed by the tsunami of Tuesday 29th September.

The Habitat Resource Centre is being built in the village of  Lepa on the southeast coast of Upolu as it is closest to the hardest hit areas by the tsunami.  All building materials will be delivered there “timber cut, rebar cut, poles cut, trusses manufactured, such that a core kitset house can be delivered to the final site and quickly erected.”

Habitat for Humanity NZ's Resource Centre, built by volunteer builders, which will be used to store building materials and kit out the homes. Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity NZ.

Habitat for Humanity NZ have dubbed this construction effort: Project Samoa Hope.

The Fale building programme is the urgent first response of the Samoan Government to provide shelter to as many families as possible. Some damaged homes may be able to be repaired, and nicer homes will no doubt also be rebuilt over time by those families that can afford them. HFHNZ is only partnering with the Government in the first response Fale rebuilding.

Habitat for Humanity New Zealand
11 November 2009

Although the official number of houses to be build is 425 at this stage, Habitat for Humanity say the situation is fluid in Samoa given that not all families have registered on the master list of those whose homes have been destroyed in the tsunami. They accept that the numbers may rise.

A Fale is a traditional Samoan home with concrete floor, timber trusses and iron roof, supported by multiple poles. The Government has sanctioned that all rebuilt Fale will be one standard design, which is 7.2 metres long by 4.8 metres wide.

One end will be a cyclone resistant hip roof, and the other end a gable roof so that this structure can be easily added onto and expanded in size later on by the family occupants. The roof will have strapping to make it cyclone resistant.

There will be an outside ablution block with shower and flush toilet, and ideally a water tank for supply of rain water to be collected from the roof, for both purposes. At this stage there is still a shortage of funding for around 200 water tanks to ensure all 425 Fale have this provision met.

Habitat for Humanity NZ.

To help Samoa’s rebuilding, please click here.