PICTURE STORY

DISASTER RELIEF SUPPLIES AND PASTORAL VISIT TO THE ISLANDS IN TEMOTU.

- Marked in RED were the Islands visited.

A Team led by the Bishop of Temlotu, Bishop George Takeli and Disaster team from the diocese headed by the Diocesan Mission Secretary Fr. Leonard Dawea and per- sonals from the World Vision in Temotu visited the islands in Temotu from the 15th to 22nd April 2015. The trip began at Nupani to Nukapu, Nifiloli, Reef Island, Duff, Anuta, Tikopia, Vanikoro and Utupua. Bishop George Takeli in his arrival at Anuta. Bishop Takeli did confirmation in Duff and Tikopia. He also encouraged and talk with the people on the islands as they began to put things together. Priests, Community chiefs and elders were really thankful to the support and the visit made by the Diocesan Bishop and the team. “I was uplifted and filled with joy when we saw MV Southern Cross approaching ,” one prominent elder in Anuta said. “We did not expect your coming today, but because you and the church have concern for us, you have made it to come and see the situation here yourself,” an elder in Anuta said to the Bishop and his team. Anuta is the most devastated island left by cyclone Pam apart from Duff islands, Tikopia and others. According to NDMO assessment team in Lata; There are 71 house holds in Anuta and a total population of 243. While the NDMO, World Vision and others already donated some very basic needs at this stage, food will still be a very big need since 99 percent of their food gardens and coconut tress were damaged apart from reha- bilitation.

MORE PICTURES INSIDE PICTURE STORY

1. NIUPANI. Niupani was not badly hit by the recent cyclone Pam compared to Anuta. Around 23 families lived on the island.

Priest who lives on the island acknowl- Bishop Takeli talking to the people edges Bishop and his party

2. NUKAPU. Has a population of around 40 according to Fr. Thomas Maga, a Priest on the Island. More than 10 children from age 10 and below does not go to school. There is no school on the Island. The closest school is in Nifiloli around 2 hours by 15 horse power engine. Food shortages is one major problem the guardians faced in Nifiloli. They all rely on fruit tress, banana and coco- nut in the islands.

Bishop Takeli talking to the people Church Building. The Cross in front is This is where Bishop Patteson was were Bishop Patteson was murdered. Prepared to be laid to rest on the island.

Departing Nukapu Main food on the island with banana and coconut PICTURE STORY

3. NIFILOLI. Much bigger island than Nukapu and Niupani as well as the population. This is where children at Nukapu came to attend Primary school.

4. REEF ISLANDS. Unloading rice, taiyo and noodle for the communities in Reef Islands.

2 1

1. Unloading disaster relief supplies. 2. Bishop Takeli talking to the Priests on the islands who will do the distribute the supplies to each communities. PICTURE STORY

5. DUFF ISLANDS. Duff Islands consists of villages namely: Kahula, Ngauta, Longhono, Tatamotu and Tahua. Total population on on the Islands is 227 according to NDMO report. Around 7 hours to travel from reef Islands to Duff on board MV Southern Cross.

An aftermath of cyclone Pam in one of the village in Duff. Pictures by World Vision in Temotu, who went to the Islands few days after the cyclone.

5. ANUTA. Anuta is the most devastated island left by Cyclone Pam.in Temotu, Solomon Is- lands. It took a day and a half to reach Anuta on MV Southern Cross. No Internet coverage on the Island that makes communications very difficult. Two way radio is the only means to communicate outside the island, but this is reliable only when the weather permits.

Confirmed with NDMO, that food would be- come a problem on the island since their coco- nut tress, root crops and fruit tress began to die. PICTURE STORY

Pictures from this line and above are from the recent Diocesan disaster and relief supplies and pastoral visit to Anuta.

MV Southern Cross also helped to ship 71 cartoons consist of blankets and 71 bags of shelter kits distributed by World Vision.

Two photos below (Cassava garden and A house covered with coconut leaves) were taken few days after the cyclone left the island by World Vision in Temotu. PICTURE STORY

7. TIKOPIA. There are 300 house holds in Tikopia, out of the total population of 1,315 as according to NDMO report. Tikopia has no major damages compared to Anuta. Root crops, fruit tress and bananas are still green in color.

There is a Telekom Tower on the Island that makes communication easier.

Bishop George Takeli did confirmation for about 100 plus children on the Island. The children were dressed in their traditional wears.

Pictures on left and above are taken during the recent visit to Tikopia.

Below were taken by a one officer from World Vision work- ing in Temotu few days after cyclone Pam left. PICTURE STORY

7. VANIKORO and UTUPUA.

Talking to people in Vanikoro.