Communities in North-East Guadalcanal struggling to re-build their shattered lives following the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Harold.
When Tropical Cyclone Harold tore through North East Guadalcanal earlier this month it left a massive trail of destruction in its wake leaving more than 400 people in and around Suaghi with damaged homes and the total loss of their food gardens.
People at Suaghi and surrounds are trying to re-build their lives but need emergency supplies and food.
The problems caused by Tropical Cyclone Harold are on a massive scale and the country’s National Disaster Management Centre has said eight percent of the population of Guadalcanal was badly affected by the cyclone.
Latest estimates say 12,500 people are awaiting emergency supplies and other forms of assistance.
One resident of Suaghi village told the media people are trying their best to provide food for their families, but without their food gardens it is proving increasingly difficult and children have taken to surviving on coconuts and bananas.
It is reported that some emergency relief began being distributed on 17 April.
If the National Disaster Management Centre is finding it difficult, as it would seem, to supply relief by emergency supplies and perhaps funding support for the struggling communities of North-East Guadalcanal. I very much hope one of the government’s development aid partners will step-up quickly and give assistance, as on the same basis as New Zealand has already provided for Fiji and Vanuatu, both also badly affected by the passage of Tropical Cyclone Harold.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
