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SPORTS OPINION

Fraud claims in Ambae

aware that there have been land deals
that have gone wrong and some people
have lost money,” he said.
“It is sad to see because people are
By Priya Chand trying their best to sustain themselves
and losing finances while doing that is
A MORE consistent and co-ordinated not something that should happen.”
effort is required as an estimated 1000 Vira said water continued to be prob-
people affected by continuous acid rain lematic as existing supplies were being
on Ambae Island have moved to Santo tested for acidity. Water shortage is
and Port Vila, a spokesperson for the especially worse in west Ambae.
Ambae disaster committee has revealed. School children have been badly af-
Ambae was under threat from the plant and techniques to help plants grow fected too, with the island schools being
Manaro volcano eruption last October, in these extreme conditions,” he said. closed off for a month now. Vira said
and while the threat has dropped back “Many families (are) selling off kava with the new year, “water issues remain
to level two, acid rain and ash that con- plants before they rot - issue is how a worry.”
tinued to affect the island has affected this money is saved and managed as “New classrooms would need to be
more than 5000 people, destroying their the next harvest to be sold would be a built to cater for children that have
crops and fields. few years away.” moved from acid rain affected areas.”
Henry Vira, in an interview with Is- Acid rain has affected islanders in He said there was a need to build
lands Business, said people were mov- both west and south Ambae. Ash fall multipurpose evacuation centres along
ing away at their own costs and trying on the other hand has affected mostly the coast that could be used as schools
their best to be resilient in the face of west and south Ambae due to prevailing and markets during normal times and
such hardships. south easterlies but Vira said this was become evacuation centres during emer-
He said while the government and expected to change with winds likely to gency periods.
civil society organisations continued to come from a north to south direction. Reports have surfaced that the gov-
support communities with food, the as- Vira claimed some individuals, whilst ernment was trying to secure land
sistance has been irregular. negotiating for land with other land- amounting to VT270000 (US$2500) per
“Individual families in acid affected owners, have been cheated and had lost hectare for the affected people on the
areas have moved to less affected areas money in the process. island to occupy, but nothing has been
along the coast of west Ambae and “It’s a question of legality, and I am confirmed by officials.
families need advice on what crops to r priyameyou@gmail.com
Islands Business, January 2018 19