UNICEF NZ (UN Children’s Fund)
Media Release

UNICEF team identifies humanitarian needs in wake of Solomon Islands tsunami

Wellington, 8 January 2010. – Lack of clean water, sanitation facilities, shelter and food are among the key issues facing residents of tsunami-damaged Rendova Island according to a UN Children’s Fund assessment team on the ground.

A series of earthquakes earlier this week – one as big as 7.2 magnitude – generated at least one tsunami that struck the New Georgia Islands in the Western Province of Solomon Islands. It is the second major disaster to affect the Solomon Islands since another tsunami hit the Western Province in April 2007.

Early reports indicate that the remote Rendova and Tetepare Islands were the most severely affected, although damage is also reported on nearby Nggatokae Island. UNICEF has been working closely with the Solomon Islands Government and partner agencies to identify the extent of the damage and immediate needs.

UNICEF Pacific Representative, Dr. Isiye Ndombi, says the three-person UNICEF assessment team visited a number of villages in the west and south of Rendova Island this week, covering a population of around 1,000 people.

“One village was entirely washed away, while a further two villages suffered a combination of earthquake, wave and landslide damage.

“None of the villages has access to clean water supplies and sanitation is also likely to be an issue. There is the very real risk that the lack of clean water and sanitation facilities may lead to the spread of diseases such as diarrhoea and red eye, with the risk particularly high for children under 5 years of age.

“Many houses have been damaged, creating a need for temporary shelter. In addition, a number of copra sheds have been destroyed, compromising one of the main sources of family income and leaving parents worried about how they will provide for their children’s health and educational needs. Crops and gardens appear to have survived overall, but people are wary of visiting their gardens due to the continuing risk of landslides.

“The school at Baniata village has sustained damage to all four buildings and appears to be unusable. With the school holidays ending later this month, it is important to be in a position to get children back to school as soon as possible. Returning to the normalcy and safety of school will help children overcome the distress they will have experienced with the disaster.”

Dr. Isiye Ndombi says the health centre at Baniata is undamaged, but remains short of drugs and staff, meaning the nearest functioning health facility is at Munda on neighbouring New Georgia Island.

UNICEF has pre-positioned emergency supplies in Honiara available to be deployed as requested by the Solomon Islands Government. These include emergency health kits, tents, tarpaulins, collapsible water containers, water bladders, water purifying tablets, public health information materials, and school in a box kits.

UNICEF has been working with reconstruction of schools and sanitation infrastructure in Western Province of Solomon Islands since April 2007, and maintains offices in Honiara and Gizo.

ENDS

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