Honolulu, Hawaii: The U.S. Department of Labour is awarding about US$25 million to American Samoa to help with tsunami cleanup and recovery efforts in the remote U.S. Pacific territory.

The funds designated to create recovery effort jobs will be administered by the territory's Department of Human Resources.

More than US$8 million is due to be released first. Additional funding will be released as American Samoa demonstrates need.

The territory's delegate to Congress, Eni Faleomavaega, said Tuesday that American Samoa's people appreciate the federal support they've received since the Sept. 29 disaster.

Senator Daniel Akaka said  the grant will create temporary jobs helping residents rebuild homes and infrastructure, survey environmental damage and repair damaged buildings.