Rt Hon Winston Peters
Minister of Foreign Affairs

3 April 2007
Media statement

Emergency supplies, $500,000 for Solomons

New Zealand is making an initial $500,000 contribution to the Solomon Islands as well as providing humanitarian supplies in the wake of yesterday's earthquake and tsunami, Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced today.

"Initial assessments of damage and casualties are continuing but the available information suggests the situation is grave and there are thousands of Solomon Islanders requiring urgent assistance," Mr Peters said.

"New Zealand has responded quickly to the situation and an RNZAF Hercules that left Auckland for Honiara this morning was loaded with emergency supplies from NZAID, including tarpaulins, blankets and water containers, as well as food and utensil kits and hurricane lamps from the New Zealand Red Cross.

"The immediate focus is on saving lives and getting out to remote communities to assess the extent of the damage.

"We have a staff member from NZAID (the government's international aid and development agency) on the ground in Munda, in the Solomons' Western Province, participating in the assessments. He is relaying information to our High Commission in Honiara and to NZAID in Wellington.

"New Zealand is also working closely with the Solomon Islands government and we expect to receive a formal request for assistance shortly. This will help shape the specifics of how our initial $500,000 contribution will be spent," Mr Peters said.

A series of earthquakes, the largest reported registering 8.1 on the Richter Scale, struck the Western Province of Solomon Islands early yesterday morning, triggering tsunami waves that caused further damage.

Currently 10 people are confirmed dead but the death toll is expected to rise.

ENDS

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