Solomon Islands:World Vision Sends Assessment Team

World Vision Dispatches Rapid Assessment Team To Tsunami-Affected Communities In The Solomon Islands

Rapid assessment team members of World Vision accompanied by a national disaster team of the Solomon Islands government are currently on their way by helicopter to communities in the Weather Coast affected by the three undersea quakes and tsunami that struck Tetepare and Rendova Islands, southeast of Gizo, on Monday and Tuesday this week.

The islands are about 300km from the capital city of Honiara.

Uta Temahua, Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs Co-ordinator of World Vision Solomon Islands, said World Vision staff members and a hover craft are also on standby in the port city of Noro to await the outcome of the assessment and render further assistance if necessary.

World Vision Solomon Islands, furthermore, has a container with emergency supplies in the capital city of Honiara ready to be airlifted to the affected communities as soon as the needs assessment has been completed. The supplies include tarpaulins, blankets, water containers, hygiene and baby kits emergency kits, kitchens sets and mosquito nets.

According to Ms Temahua, no reports of any casualties had been received, while reports that 500 homes had been damaged and 1000 people displaced still needed to be confirmed.

Two huge tsunami waves hit Tetepare and Rendova Islands on Monday, following two quakes of magnitude 6.5 and 7.2 respectively. A third earthquake, measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale, occurred on Tuesday morning, 104km southeast of Gizo.

“We feel encouraged that communities in the Solomon Islands are benefiting from disaster-preparedness and rebuilding programmes World Vision has been implementing since the tsunami that struck the Western and Choiseul provinces on April 2, 2007,” said Seth le Leu, Director of International Programmes of World Vision New Zealand.

According to Mr Le Leu, a shelter recovery programme to help rebuild the dwellings of about 5000 vulnerable families affected by the 2007 tsunami are still under way, while communities are trained in disaster-preparedness through village disaster committees. These projects are funded by World Vision New Zealand and matched by New Zealand Aid.

ENDS

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