BY LORETTA B MANELE
Current response efforts by the national government, development partners, NGOs and business houses are being coordinated to assist communities severely affected by Tropical Cyclone Maila in Western and Choiseul provinces.
Jonathan Tafiariki, Director of the National Disaster Management Office and Chair of the National Disaster Operations Committee (N-DOC), provided an update to the media on Friday, 24 April.
He said response operations are being led by Provincial Disaster Committees in line with arrangements under the Solomon Islands National Disaster Management Plan 2018.
Tafiariki explained that under the plan, provinces are mandated through legislation to lead disaster response efforts, with support from relevant agencies.
He said resources mobilised at the national level have already been deployed to Western and Choiseul—both declared disaster areas by MECDM Minister Trevor Manemahaga on 10 April.
Two vessels, supported by the Australian Government, were chartered to transport food supplies to the affected provinces.
LC Kikori delivered supplies to Western Province, supported by a government patrol boat stationed there to assist with distribution. Meanwhile, LC Foresen 7 transported emergency relief supplies to Choiseul Province.
Tafiariki said the assistance includes food and non-food items such as shelter kits, hygiene kits, household kits and livelihood kits.
He acknowledged continued logistical support from partners, including the governments of Australia and New Zealand.
“The Royal Australian Air Force assisted in the early stages of the response by relocating pre-positioned supplies, particularly non-food items,” he said.
He added that the Government of New Zealand and the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency also supported aerial assessments across affected provinces.
Additional support was provided by the Government of the People’s Republic of China, which contributed SBD500,000 in humanitarian assistance.
Tafiariki said MV Airi, chartered by World Vision, recently transported supplies to Western Province on behalf of response partners.
He also acknowledged NGOs actively supporting relief efforts on the ground, including World Vision, Save the Children and Adventist Development and Relief Agency.
“The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and Pacific Community have also deployed personnel to assist with coordination and information management at provincial operation centres,” he said.
Local businesses such as Fielders and Hyundai Group, along with forestry associations, were acknowledged for donating food supplies.
Tafiariki also thanked individuals, NGOs and civil society groups for working through provincial operation centres to ensure coordinated response efforts.
“For Western Province, assessment teams have already been deployed and emergency supplies have reached affected communities,” he said.
“Choiseul Province has also deployed its assessment teams.”
He added that teams from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services are on the ground in both provinces to ensure continued delivery of health services, particularly where clinics have been disrupted.
The national emergency response team has also been deployed to support coordination, assessments and relief distribution.
Government has allocated SBD10 million for the initial response phase, with funds also distributed to other provinces affected by TC Maila.
Photo credit: Loretta B Manele
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