Doonside-based pastor Isaia Tuapola, of the Samoan Assembly of God, said some of his relatives in his native village of Eva had lost their homes.

``I rang up my sister who told me what had happened,'' he said.

``She's OK but some of my family have lost everything.''

He said it was hard for many to bear, especially for those whose relatives had died in the disaster.

But, he said, the Samoan community had rallied to help, with many local Samoan churches, including his own, collecting clothes, tinned food and money.

``As the pastor of my church, I try to share its donations among everyone,'' he said. ``I contact the chiefs in Samoa, who are the heads of the villages, so they can share what's needed.''

He said his home village had suffered about $10,000 worth of damage, but other places had fared far worse.

``Some people went up to the mountains and put up tarpaulins to sleep under; some used banana leaves.''

Mr Tuapola said it would take time for Samoans to rebuild.

He urged people wanting to help to donate to the Red Cross.

``We need help, we need your support,'' he said.

To donate to the Australian Red Cross tsunami appeal, phone 1800811700 or email community

fundraising@redcross. org.au.