Life bounces back

in the Ellice

Funafuti, in the Ellice Islands, took the full brunt of hurricane Bebe in October, with heavy losses of food crops and livestock, and severe damage to buildings and installations.

The island was little better than a shambles. Now, less than six months later, although many traces of the hurricane remain, the islanders, through their own resilience, and with material and financial help from overseas, are close to living a normal life again.

The UK Government approved a grant of about $500,000 to replace medical and P and T equipment, and to provide building materials for homes. The Royal New Zealand Engineers flew in a team of men with heavy earth-moving equipment, trucks and cranes, to tackle the mammoth task of cleaning up the debris. Helped by local people, under the leadership of Hosea Kaitu, they cleared the government station, re opened roads, and rebuilt the seawall on the ocean side of the airfield.

Bulldozers had to plough into rubble which Bebe had sucked from the

depths of the ocean and thrown onto dry land. Portable saws, operated by the local people, were used to cut off fallen coconut trees at ground level. The local people also helped to load trucks and collect and burn rubbish.

One of the first tasks was to repair the wharf, which was almost totally destroyed, so that essential building materials could be landed safely. A two-ton crane was sent from Britain for installation at the wharf. The NZ sappers helped to lift the crane into position.

When the last traces of Bebe are removed, if ever, Funafuti will have a “new look” for the UK Govern ment sent out a planning expert to

prepare a plan for the island.

The visiting Kiwi sappers soon won the hearts of the local people. At a farewell feast fans and necklaces were presented to them. Badges of two units of the NZRE, who worked to repair the damage were presented to the Island Council.

The Kiwis would not have been soldiers if they had not found some thing to “moan” about; it was a legitimate moan. They stayed at the Vaiaku-Langi Hotel, where chef Manu fed them well. But for some reason or other, an order for 300 cartons of beer was not filled during their stay on the island, and the Vaiaku-Langi was really a “pub with no beer”.

Funafuti on the way to recovery. Photos: A. G. Shearer.

The Van Camp fishing ship lies where she was driven aground in the cyclone.