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Emergency Relief Reaches Solomon Islands

Contact: Andrea Russell - World Vision Asia Pacific Communications, (91) 040 4017 9428, (91) 99892 38223 cell, andi_russell@wvi.org

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS, Apr. 4 /Standard Newswire/ -- Thousands of people in the Solomons are receiving aid, after many were left homeless and injured by a tsunami after an earthquake measuring 8.0 hit the Islands at 07:40 local time on Monday 2 April.

 

Huge waves struck the shores and swept through villages and towns causing widespread destruction to homes, schools and churches and killing around 25 people.

 

Up to 60,000 lives have been impacted and World Vision reports now show that up to 20,000 people have lost their water supplies, 5,000 people are without food or shelter and around 10,000 people have lost their livelihood.

 

The town of Gizo continues to be the worst hit, with its buildings and infrastructure completely destroyed and hospitals still struggling to provide medical assistance after water flooded the building - many residents now have to sleep in the open in the hills above the town. Paul Martell, Interim National Director for World Vision Pacific Development Group has issued a formal declaration of a Category I emergency in the Solomon Islands.

 

Martell said, "Our disaster program team has flown into the Western province to conduct assessments and plans on visiting villages in remote rural areas, as well as Gizo and Munda, to gather further information about the extent of damage. We have also sent the first shipment of relief supplies to the Islands."

 

"Work will be done on completing initial proposals over the Easter period. Our priority will be to not only address immediate needs such as food, water and shelter but to look at long term reconstruction and rehabilitation of those communities whose lives have been devastated by this disaster."

 

Further relief items to be supplied include:

 

  • Kitchen utensils, 20 litre water containers and food storage containers

 

  • Tarpaulins for temporary shelters

 

  • Food (Oil, flour, salt, sugar, ready mixed coffee/tea, rice and canned tuna)

 

  • Water tanks and other appropriate water supply materials

 

  • Clothes and blankets

 

  • Seeds and tools for restoration of livelihood

 

Three additional World Vision personnel are enroute to the Solomons from New Zealand and Australia to support the relief program.

 

World Vision is the largest NGO in the Solomon Islands and will take a joint lead approach with the Red Cross.


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