By BEN BILUA
Gizo
CHAIRMAN of the Sasamuga Disaster Committee, Tani Kiko, is calling for urgent assistance in the form of machinery to help his community clear massive debris left behind by the recent cyclone.
Kiko said the village is facing significant challenges in its clean-up efforts, with huge fallen trees blocking roads, damaging buildings, and making access across the community extremely difficult.
“Large trees were thrown across our road access and even onto buildings. It is very challenging and hard work trying to cut these trees using only axes and knives,” he said.
According to Kiko, the main coastal road stretching approximately 16 kilometres from the eastern to the western end of the community has been heavily impacted.
“We have a 16-kilometre road along the coastline, but now parts of it is destroyed while other sections are completely buried under fallen trees,” he said.
Kiko said efforts by community members to clear the debris have so far proven difficult due to the sheer size of the trees.
“We tried to clear the trees, but it’s quite difficult because some of them are very huge,” he said.
Kiko appealed directly to the Prime Minister and his delegation to assist the community with chainsaws to speed up the clean-up process.
“This is why we ask the Prime Minister and delegation to provide us with chainsaws for our clean-up campaign,” he added.
Kiko also said access to food gardens has been affected, with pathways blocked by fallen trees, further impacting livelihoods.
Despite the challenges, he said the community has already begun clearing operations.
Kiko said some areas have been successfully opened, allowing children to resume outdoor activities.
He said Sasamuga community continues to push forward with its recovery efforts but Kiko said additional support is crucial to restore access and to rebuild their lives more quickly.
Photo credit: Ben Bilua
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