Kiribati reeling from Cyclone Pam

Transcript

Reports are coming in from Kiribati of severe damage to homes on three of the nation's southern islands following high winds and sea surges due to Cyclone Pam.

The government's spokesman, Rimon Rimon, says a full assessment of the damage is underway but yet to be completed.

He told Jenny Meyer some sea walls have collapsed and the main causeway link on Tarawa Atoll has been hit by destructive waves over the past week but it is now operating in a limited capacity after repairs and is currently under police control.

Mr Rimon says a substantial number of people have been affected by the disaster but the rainwater has been welcomed.

RIMON RIMON: The heavy rainfall last week answered some of the people's prayers about their need for water. Especially those lucky enough to have water catchment here, like tanks and all that. But most of the people on the island of Tarawa are using well water and it with the high, the tides coming really up and the water, the state of the water it's brackish and not very good for consumption.

JENNY MEYER: Can you just give me a summary, just briefly, of what you believe has been the main impact of Cyclone Pam on Kiribati?

RR: The main impact is it's effected most of the essential services. It's impacted the main infrastructures used by the public so I think it's affected all areas. The schools were closed down during that. Some offices and government ministries couldn't work because some of their employees are staying in Betio where the causeway was so they had to return before the causeway badly damaged and couldn't be used. Yeah I think that has affected businesses and people going around with their normal lives.

JM: So it was kind of like Kiribati was kind of shut down for a few days?

RR: Kind of like shut down.

JM: What about the power. Is the power back on now and everything pretty much back to normal?

RR: Everything is pretty much back to normal. All those people concerned with providing essential public services are on top of it, trying to repair all the damages. Especially with the Nippon causeway because that's the main link where the supplies and all the other cargo are being transported on. The Ministry of Public Works are on top of this, including some assistance from one of the companies that currently are doing the road contracts, McConnell Dowell, is lending a hand in this situation. We've also got one of the bridging companies here bringing in the sand which is very much needed in the construction of the causeway. And the police have been taking control of the traffic on the causeway.

JM: So just to be clear the causeway is now functioning. as usual is it?

RR: It's now functioning but there's still a five tonne limit on it.

JM: Were there many houses and homes damaged or destroyed by this weather?

RR: Oh yes. There's a lot of houses damaged. We have reports coming in from three of the southern islands, some have had to move from one side, they've been residing on one side of the island and due to the wind and the waves, they had to, all the village had to relocate to the other end. So it's affecting their lives, their livelihoods. I think it's going to take quite a long time for them to get back to normal and try to get things in order.

JM: And have they got sufficient temporary shelter available?

RR: Yes they have located to the other end of the island. But the whole of the islands and most of the government assets  on the outer islands are badly damaged.

JM: Do you know if there's assistance coming from the armed forces in New Zealand or Australia?

RR: No. Not that I'm aware of.

JM: Has there been a request, do you know?

RR: I don't think so. I don't think there's been any request. If there is then I'm not aware of that.

JM: And so really the government's still assessing the situation?

RR: Yes. The government is still assessing this and maybe will meet again today or tomorrow and then see what, where they stand from here.

JM: And you've got the NGOs involved in that assessment too have you? Like the Red Cross, and Save the Children, Unicef?

RR: Yes the NGOs especially the Red Cross are very active. And over the past week I think just recently are doing the, ago are doing, there was a huge spring tide that also affected the islands; and the Red Cross have also been instrumental in helping those families who are mostly affected.