The We Rise project, backed by USAID, has been launched in Samoa, with a new warehouse of supplies opened at Malōlōlelei on Monday. Photo: US Embassy in Apia
More than 1000 families around Samoa are set to benefit from an emergency response project, launched to help people become more resilient during natural disasters.
A new warehouse containing equipment that can be used during natural disasters, and supplies for distribution to families, was officially opened at Malōlōlelei on Monday.
WE RISE is the US$1.5 million Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Expansion, Resilient Islands, Strengthened Environments (WE RISE), and is backed by USAID.
The project is also being launched in Fiji and Tonga and implemented by Catholic Relief Services, in partnership with local organisations Caritas Samoa, Caritas Suva and Caritas Tonga.
Head of the programme from Caritas Samoa, Karen Anaya, said the project will help them enhance their support to the Disaster Management Office - the primary agency for emergency response - by strategically prepositioning more resilient supplies across the country.
The We Rise project, backed by USAID, has been launched in Samoa, with a new warehouse of supplies opened at Malōlōlelei on Monday. Photo: US Embassy in Apia
The launch was attended by the US Ambassador to Samoa, Tom Udall, and Charge d'affaires, Noriko Horiuchi.
Ambassador Tom Udall said it is a two-year initiative that will support 12,000 people in disaster-prone communities in Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa.
"The project here in Samoa will be implemented by Catholic Relief Services and Caritas Samoa, in partnership with the government, the faith-based community and local organizations," he said.
"Together, we will improve household access to safe drinking water and household access to safe sanitation facilities, ensure communities have access to hygiene supplies during emergencies, and strengthen local organizations' preparedness and response to disasters at the community level."
