Pacific / Samoa

Multi-million dollar flood protection project for Samoa

21:48 pm on 6 July 2018

Samoa's government has begun work on a multi-million dollar project it hopes will protect 18 vulnerable communities from flooding.

Flooding in Samoa during Cyclone Gita Photo: Twitter @IFRCAsiaPacific

The aim of the Vaisigano Catchment Project is to reduce exposure to climate risks in the area.

The project has a total budget of $US65 million and is a partnership with the Green Climate Fund and the United Nations Development Programme.

The project began with a two day workshop which is expected to scale up activities along the banks of the Vaisigano river.

The government has proposed building a flood wall along the riverside.

The Apia river is prone to flooding which has caused a number or evacuations over the years, most recently during February's Cyclone Gita.