BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
WOMEN from Paeloge and Saeragi communities are facing daily hardship after a key bridge linking their villages to Gizo was destroyed by severe Tropical Cyclone Maila.
With road access cut off, women are now forced to walk long distances to sell their produce at the Gizo Market, carrying heavy loads on their backs in order to support their families.
Island Sun met Mrs. Liuda Lagi at the Gizo Market last week, where she was selling fresh root crops, including cassava and potatoes.
She said that she was among a group of women who woke as early as 3am to begin their journey on foot from their village.
“We walk from our village up to mile six and then down to Gizo. We carry our produce on our backs because vehicles cannot reach us. The road and bridge are badly damaged,” Lagi said.
She said the journey is both physically exhausting and time-consuming, but necessary for survival.
“We have no choice but to walk long distances to reach the market and walk back home. We need to support our family, so our sacrifice is for our family,” Lagi said.
She said the impact of the cyclone has made an already difficult situation worse, particularly for women who rely heavily on market sales as their main source of income.
“Most families in our village depend on the market to pay school fees and meet household needs,” Lagi said.
She calls on responsible authorities to prioritise repairing the damaged bridge and road access so that transportation can resume.
The destruction caused by Tropical Cyclone Maila continues to present serious challenges for communities across Western Province, with many families striving to rebuild their lives with limited resources.
Photo credit: Ben Bilua
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