21 March 2022
The impact of climate change has certainly done a lot of damage and brought changes in many of the low lying atolls islands in the Solomon Islands. Babanga Island in the Western province is no exception
Unusual king tides, the weather patterns and the continuous sea level rise are life threatening issues to the (Micronesian race) who settled there.
Babanga is known for its lack of fresh water due to the contamination of the water sources and dug-out wells by salt water.
In an interview with Solomon Star Gizo, an elder from Babanga community, Wllian Torea, said the El Nino effects plus the unusual tides and the king tides have already taken away large portion of their land.
Mr. Torea said people in Babanga Island are now only drinking water from tanks, as well as using tank water for washing and sometimes bathing.
“Although there were many projects being set up here, purposely for the supply of water tanks, the population is still increasing as families are expanding and so as the demand for clean water is constant”
He said not every family on the island has water tanks. Therefore, it’s a difficult situation when it comes to the wellbeing of every household in the community.
“Our water sources have been contaminated with salt water. This is not like what it was in the past when we could drink and wash from the sources.
“When the tides rise, the water even reaches the main street where people usually walk.
“This means some of the kitchens and houses that are built beside the shoreline get flooded with water,’’ he added.
Wilfred Lee, a Bellona man married to a Babanga woman who has lived on the island for over 20 years said, the impact of sea level rise is now being experienced on both sides of the island.
Mr. Lee said the El Nino effect plus the unusual tides are the main destroyer that has swept away much of the sands, that once made up the beautiful beaches of Babanga Island.
He said he is afraid that in 10 to 20 years’ time, the island will have slowly sunk...
He added within the next 5 years, water sources on the island that spring from the ground will be contaminate by sea water and there will be no more extra water source for washing and bathing and the people will rely much on tank water.
It’s not only in Babanga Island that is experiencing the effects of climate change, many of the communities in and around Gizo that live in the coastal areas and in other smaller islands in the Western waters, such as Nusabaruku community, Fishing village and Kongu are also in the same situation.
According to some reports, there are already some islands around Gizo that have disappeared over the past years.
It is said that much of the once rich habitat and biodiversity have now sunk with the islands and now become part of the historic tale of the sinking islands in the Western province.
Source. Solomon Star news.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
