PM Thanks U.S. For Disaster Relief Assistance

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare today officially thanked the United States government for its assistances towards the April 2 earthquake and tsunami relief efforts.

In an acknowledgement ceremony for the American aid in Honiara this afternoon, Mr Sogavare said the Solomon Islands government was overwhelmed by the international assistances pouring into the country in aid of the survivors of the unprecedented catastrophe.

He said the death of 52 people in the disaster was an enormous loss for a nation of half a million people like Solomon Islands.

The US committed $250-thousand in disaster assistance funds towards emergency relief operations for the survivors of the April 2 disaster.

It also provided a helicopter and navy vessel to assist in the distribution of emergency relief supplies and transporting the sick survivors of the disaster to hospital, as well as providing medical personnel.

He told the US Honorary Consular-Agent to Solomon Islands, Keithie Saunders that no words could adequately express the gratitude of the Solomon Islands government for the level of international assistance it received - and especially that of the American government.

The Prime Minister said Solomon Islands and the US had enjoyed a long and warm relationship that dated back to the WWII.

The US consular agent revealed at the ceremony that she was working towards bringing in another American navy vessel, the USS Peleliu which is equipped with extensive engineering and medical support.

Ms. Saunders agreed that the US had very close links with Solomon Islands through WWII and hoped America’s assistance to the disaster-affected people would continue to foster that connection.

ENDS