Teams deployed to conduct assessments
A house at Visale, North-West Guadalcanal was destroyed by a fallen mango tree during the bad weather.
Officers from the National Disaster Management Office are currently supporting the provincial emergency centres to conduct assessments in areas affected by the recent bad weather.
NDMO Principle Programs Officer, Brian Tom said they are working closely with the provincial emergency centers to conduct their assessments.
“Some provinces already have their assessment teams on the field. Particular provinces are leading the assessment.
He urged communities to be patient as assessment teams are on their way.
“Assessment teams are yet to reach some communities because of distance so we ask them to be patient, the assessment teams will still come around.
“Victims of the recent bad weather will soon receive solar lamps as part of relief efforts that are currently underway in parts of the country.”
Meanwhile, the Taiwanese Embassy in Honiara yesterday donated up to twenty cartons of solar lamps to the Solomon Islands Red Cross Society for distribution.
The cartons contain three hundred and sixty lamp units that will be distributed to the disaster victims.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Second Secretary of the Taiwanese Embassy, David Li said the humanitarian support resulted from partnership between the Embassy, Red Cross and the Solomon Islands Government.
Persisting heavy rains and strong winds caused flooding in Central Guadalcanal and other parts of Solomon Islands.
He said the support will help the victims to have light.
“A total of 360 lamps are donated today to the affected families and communities of the rural Solomon Islands. With diligent staff and thorough knowledge on the ground, we believe that Solomon Islands Red Cross Society will be able to identify and facilitate the effective distribution of our humanitarian relief.”
Red Cross Secretary General, Thomas Bebeu thanked the Taiwanese Embassy for the support.
“Thanks to the Taiwan Embassy for recognizing the need on the ground given the need we made just a simple and humble request for support from Taiwan. But the response provided is overwhelming. So we are very thankful to the kind responsibility and commitment from the Embassy of Taiwan and its good people.
“Thank you so much for providing the needed items in these difficult times.”
In Western Province, the distribution of non-food items to affected areas is underway following reports received by the Provincial Emergency Operations Center through Red Cross in Gizo and the National Emergency Operation Centre in Honiara.
A statement from the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology confirmed, communities around Ranongga, Simbo, Gizo, Munda, Kolobangara and Roviana lagoon have received non-food items.
The statement said at least 26 dwelling homes, 16 kitchens and two church halls were either damaged or totally destroyed in the various communities.
It said one clinic and a water tank were totally destroyed while a classroom was destroyed at Lengana Primary School on Simbo Island.
The heavy rain and wind damaged infrastructure including roads and electrical poles.
Electricity lines and water pipes were also damaged at Goldie College.
Following their second meeting on 7 January the Western Provincial Disaster Office Committee deployed a team on Saturday 12 January comprising of two Solomon Islands Red Cross officers and a police officer to support the distribution of non-food items to affected communities around Munda.
Items such as tarpulines, blankets, kitchen sets, hygiene kits, collapsible containers, solar lights, mosquito nets and buckets were distributed.
The Western Province Agriculture Division and Police in Gizo provided the logistics to enable quick and effective distribution to all the affected areas.
By: Gina Maka’a and Allen Waitara