ADB ANNOUNCED ASSISTANCE TO SOLOMON FLOODS
ADB has announced a $200,000 assistance to Solomon Islands. Photo credit: ADB.
The Asian Development Bank has announced it is providing 200-thousand dollars to the Solomon Islands government to help fund humanitarian and relief efforts following the recent flash floods.
Earlier this month, prolonged heavy rain associated with a tropical storm caused severe flooding in the nation’s capital, Honiara, and across Guadalcanal province.
There were 21 deaths and a reported 52-thousand people have been affected, while major infrastructure including the sewerage system, water supplies, and major roads and bridges were badly damaged or destroyed.
About 9-thousand people are currently in evacuation centers.
In a media statement today, Regional Director of the bank’s Pacific Liaison and Coordination Office in Sydney, Andrea Iffland said the flood has ruined lives, livelihoods and infrastructure.
He said providing emergency relief and restoring essential services must be a priority in the rebuilding process.
Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank has approved the grant under its Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund.
The emergency funds may be used to provide support for the restoration of life-preserving services to communities affected by the flash floods.
The bank has also been working with the government on the initial damage assessment and assessing ongoing infrastructure needs.
Based in Manila, ADB is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration.
Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members of which 48 are from the region.
Last year, ADB’s assistance to Solomon Islands totaled to 21billion dollars, including co-financing of 6-point-6 billion dollars.