State of calamity called in cyclone-hit French Polynesia
Updated
French Polynesia is getting back on its feet after being battered by one of the worst storm in years this weekend, but Radio Australia has just learned that a state of calamity has been called as damage assessments come in.
Cyclone Oli passed across the territory this weekend, destroying hundreds of homes in Bora Bora and Tahiti. However it was the island of Tubuai, in the Austral Islands that was the worst hit.
Magali Charbonneau details the initial plans for disaster relief in the territory.
Presenter: Geraldine Coutts
Speaker: Magali Charbonneau, director of the French Polynesia High Commissioner's Office
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CHARBONNEAU: To help the people, to send a lot of material to help people, especially in Tubuai where we have more than half of the houses which have been destroyed by the storm. And since last Friday we have sent many planes and goods and sheets and so on to bring them lots of things to restore roads and electricity and water supply and so on and so forth.
COUTTS: Well how are the people coping there now, I mean obviously if all their homes have been destroyed how are they getting on, how are they coping?
CHARBONNEAU: The situation in Tubuai is quite difficult, first of all we've had to send more water because water supply was out of service, so that was the first priority. The second priority was to restore electricity, which is not okay today, about half of the population has electricity today. And the third priority was to restore the phones. So today it's almost okay but we're still working on to restore all those things. And now we are still sending materials to restore houses and to help people.
COUTTS: Well in the meantime where are the people living? Have they been evacuated to care centres?
CHARBONNEAU: Almost 600 people have been evacuated to safe places where they are still leaving today because their houses are not... they cannot go back home, it's totally destroyed.
COUTTS: And have food supplies already been flown in to accomodate these people as well to help feed them?
CHARBONNEAU: Yes, yes, food is okay, tomorrow a big ship which has been sent from Tahiti to Tubuai will arrive. On that ship there are 200 people coming to help in Tubuai and they are bringing water and food for everybody.
COUTTS: Well how long do you think it will take to reestablish the buildings that were destroyed? How long will it be before you can complete the cleanup?
CHARBONNEAU: I'm afraid it will take months to restore everything because the situation is really, really bad in Tubuai, especially houses and public facilities are totally destroyed.
COUTTS: And have you been able to establish an estimate of the damages yet?
CHARBONNEAU: Not yet, we are still working on it, we hope to have a first estimation maybe Tuesday or next Wednesday.
COUTTS: And will you be getting much assistance from Paris?
CHARBONNEAU: Yes Paris has said they will send, they will help to restore, some special money will be... they're working on it today. The Minister Madam Penchard, one of the ministers of the French government was until yesterday here in Tahiti and she has made a commitment that Paris will help French Polynesia's restoration. So now they're working on it and we're waiting further instructions.
COUTTS: Have you had to ask for help from organisations such as the Red Cross?
CHARBONNEAU: Well for the moment it was not necessary because the French army and French authorities here were able to restore the situation. So NGOs like the Red Cross have offered some help, but until now it was not necessary.
