One more family without water and electricity

By Ulimasao Fata 05 January 2018, 12:00AM

More and more stories of families in Aleisa-uta not having running water and electricity continue to emerge.

Yesterday, the Village Voice spoke with Koreta Peni who shed light on the struggles of living with no running water and electricity.

The 50-year-old mother of four, and grandmother of two, says this is on top of trying to survive with a low income.

 “We have been facing this problem for so long,” she said.

“The only way we are able to collect water is when it rains and from my son in-law’s family next door who share their tank with us.

“So when our in-laws run out of water, then we have to walk up the hill to this other family who has a water tank as well.

“We still don’t have access to electricity as well; we are still using kerosene lights for our house at night.”

The absence of a water supply is also a health concern for her family.

 “Sometimes we just have to wait until we have water then we will be washing our clothes and our dishes,” she said.

“Managing and distributing water for our needs is one thing because I have to make sure that the water we collect is not misused.

“We sometimes just have to wear the same clothes unwashed twice.”

Mrs. Peni also shared her family’s financial worries.

“My son in-law is the only person who provides for our family with his job.

“He usually makes $150 per week and that’s what we need to budget for a week.

“We hardly consume fancy and expensive food around here in our house; we only stick with bread and noodles because that’s what the kids want.”

Mrs. Peni is hoping for assistance to cope with their family struggles.

“I really need help here for my family, and I pray that someone out there can help me and my family.

“We really need help to cope with our struggles of living without water, living without electricity and surviving on low financial income.”

Mrs. Peni says she has also urged her son to find a job and help support their family.

For anyone willing to help Mrs. Peni and her family, she can be contacted on mobile phone number +685 7272239. 

By Ulimasao Fata 05 January 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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