The University of the South Pacific is now providing counseling as well as extending the deadline for all assignments and payment of school fees to those students in Samoa affected by the tsunami.

USP Vice Chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra in offering his condolence, revealed that they will be providing learning support until the end of the semester next month.

Meanwhile, university counselor Mary Montu revealed that Samoan students have been visiting the Counseling Centre and a small contingent of Samoan students from the university will be heading home for the national mass funeral of their family members affected by the tsunami last weekend.

Montu also said that these students are currently in talks with the Academics office to have their final examinations back in Samoa instead of returning to Fiji to sit the exams and then fly out again to Samoa, which would be very expensive for them.

The Vice Chancellor's office revealed that the Alafua Campus in Samoa was not affected by the tsunami last Wednesday, and is being used as a refuge facility at the moment.

A "Tsunami Appeal Fund" is being launched by USP while another initiative the "Seis Appeal" will go on from today.