Latest news with #PolinoFalevaai
RNZ News
01-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Samoan in Jersualem says businesses are slowly opening
Smoke billows from a site in the city of Haifa on 16 June 2025 following a fresh barrage of Iranian missiles. Photo: Ahmad Gharabli / AFP A Samoan security officer in Israel says businesses are starting to reopen in Jerusalem, following a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Vincent Schimdt was instrumental in helping Samoan agricultural student Polino Falevaai return safely home. Speaking to Pacific Waves , he said he was not sure but he believed there were still Pacific Islanders in the town with the agriculture school. Both Israel and Iran had confirmed the ceasefire after it was announced by US president Donald Trump last week. There were early accusations and reports of violation but it has since appeared to hold. Schmidt said both countries are monitoring the situation, as is the US, and so far things were fine, but it's unpredictable. "Things can happen at any time. Rockets can fly at any time. So here in Jerusalem, slowly, slowly, business opening up. I see some people, the houses, family, they start walking on the streets. "There's no movements at all during the war." Falevaai arrived in Apia on Saturday. Schmidt said they had to look at getting her out via land travel rather than flying. Polino Falevaai, holding cheque, at AICAT - the Arava International Center for Agriculture Training. Photo: Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa/Facebook "I think that the hardest part is because airspace was locked down, so there was no more airlines due to depart and entering the airspace of Israel." He said he understands it took her four days to get to Samoa. "They have a road trip from her place .... actually go through the border, to cross the border down south of Israel, to go to Cairo. "Knowing like all those places have a lot of checkpoints, a lot of military checkpoints; I think she went through that. And we keep telling her, like, hey, that's your way home." Schmidt oversees security and said he stayed on top of communication. "Make sure there's a bomb shelter for safety, you know, because I'm security here. So I was so concerned about our people, and especially her." Meanwhile, the Solomon Islands government said their citizens in the Middle East are safe, and help is on the way. Foreign Affairs Minister Peter Shanel Agovaka said they are working closely with Australian and Papua New Guinean diplomats. There are five students still in the country who attended agricultural college in southern Israel. Agovaka said there is also one student in Qatar and a number of workers in the United Arab Emirates.
RNZ News
19-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Samoan woman stranded in Israel 'praying for Lord's protection'
A hospital in southern Israel and two towns near Tel Aviv were struck after a barrage of Iranian missiles early on June 19, with rescuers reporting at least 47 people injured in the latest attacks. Photo: AFP / Jack Guez A Samoan woman is among those stranded in Israel after completing training. Polino Falevaai, 25, from Tufuiopa village was meant to fly home on Wednesday but her flight was cancelled due to the Israel-Iran conflict in the area. She has completed a 10-month training program in Israel, focused on agricultural research and innovation. Last Friday, Israel launched an aerial assault against Iran , which it said were aimed at disrupting the Islamic Republic's nuclear infrastructure. Iran has been retaliating in what it says is self-defence. Falevaai told the Samoa Observer that the conflict was "scary". "But I'm still praying for the Lord's protection while I'm here," she said. "The first three nights we've been going to the bomb shelter. We've tried our best to stay calm." Polino Falevaai, holding cheque, at AICAT - the Arava International Center for Agriculture Training. Photo: Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa/Facebook Falevaai, who works for the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa, told the newspaper that while there have been some missile threats in the south, where she is, it is not as severe; and she hopes to return to Samoa next week once the airport reopens. Earlier this week, the Solomon Islands foreign ministry said five people who completed agriculture training in Israel are safe but unable to come home amid the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran. The ministry said in a statement the Solomon Islands Embassy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, is closely monitoring the situation and maintaining regular contact with the students. The White House said on Thursday (US time) that President Donald Trump will make a decision on whether the US will get involved in the Israel-Iran conflict in the next two weeks.
