Our next visit was to Titianna, one of the more affected and troubling communities located on the opposite side of the Island to Gizo, which is the main town of Western Province. It was this side of the island where the tsunami wrecked the most damage. People lived on the edge of the beach and their homes were washed away together with the school.
The people of Titianna fled to the hills for safety and now live in a shanty town on land they don’t own. And they are too scared to return to the beach front and rebuild their lives.
We spoke with Ruth and her granddaughter – also called Ruth – about what it was like and how they feel about leaving the safety of the hills.
Ruth said she was woken at 7.30am by the earthquake, and she and her family of 6 ran down the stairs while the ground was still shaking. Then she saw “the big wave” coming and ran fast for the hill behind her. By the time the tsunami reached them they were high enough for the water to only reach their knees. Ruth says she won’t return to her land for another two years, even though she and her family all escaped alive.
Joseph (not his real name) lost three children. Two of the bodies were recovered and the third was not found. Over two years later Joseph talks about his missing third child, hoping against all odds that the child will still be found alive. Joseph has been left with one child from a family of four.
These stories sum up the tragedy of the worst hit community where the most lives were lost.
In Titianna UNICEF has started the reconstruction of the school – the only concrete school being built – and two teachers houses.
To date about 10% of the community have returned to their land on the beach front, but more will have to move back as the Government will not allow them to stay in the hills.
This visit showed us the hard face that was, and still is, the reality of this catastrophic event.
Over and out,
Dennis
"I'm a UNICEF supporter, and I'd love you to join me."
Lives lost and lives re-built.
Our next visit was to Titianna, one of the more affected and troubling communities located on the opposite side of the Island to Gizo, which is the main town of Western Province. It was this side of the island where the tsunami wrecked the most damage. People lived on the edge of the beach and their homes were washed away together with the school.
The people of Titianna fled to the hills for safety and now live in a shanty town on land they don’t own. And they are too scared to return to the beach front and rebuild their lives.
We spoke with Ruth and her granddaughter – also called Ruth – about what it was like and how they feel about leaving the safety of the hills.
Ruth said she was woken at 7.30am by the earthquake, and she and her family of 6 ran down the stairs while the ground was still shaking. Then she saw “the big wave” coming and ran fast for the hill behind her. By the time the tsunami reached them they were high enough for the water to only reach their knees. Ruth says she won’t return to her land for another two years, even though she and her family all escaped alive.
Joseph (not his real name) lost three children. Two of the bodies were recovered and the third was not found. Over two years later Joseph talks about his missing third child, hoping against all odds that the child will still be found alive. Joseph has been left with one child from a family of four.
These stories sum up the tragedy of the worst hit community where the most lives were lost.
In Titianna UNICEF has started the reconstruction of the school – the only concrete school being built – and two teachers houses.
To date about 10% of the community have returned to their land on the beach front, but more will have to move back as the Government will not allow them to stay in the hills.
This visit showed us the hard face that was, and still is, the reality of this catastrophic event.
Over and out,
Dennis