NOTE: This blog post will be updated with news as this comes to hand.
Rotary New Zealand World Community Service is appealing jointly with Rotary Australia WCS for donations to assist with Emergency Response, and the rehabilitation and reconstruction for the thousands displaced in the devastating floods that swept across the Solomon Islands on 3 April 2014.
Rotary New Zealand World Community Service is appealing jointly with Rotary Australia WCS for donations to assist with Emergency Response, and the rehabilitation and reconstruction for the thousands displaced in the devastating floods that swept across the Solomon Islands on 3 April 2014.
Donations may be made by cheque to:
RNZWCS Limited – Solomon’s Appeal
PO Box 20309
Christchurch 8543
or at any Westpac Branch
03 1702 0192208 01
or through other options posted on our website www.rnzwcs.org
Donations are tax deductible
Update as at 9 April 2014
from Stuart Batty
This disaster is looking like the biggest in the region since the Tsunami that struck Samoa in 2009.
Last night had long conversations with PDG Wayne Morris who is based in Honiara.
In short, there is also a desperate need for basics such as kitchen utensils.
There are none available in any of the stores there and people whilst they can cook on open fires have nothing to cook in. In fact there is little basic stock of anything available and if there were the people most affected have no money to purchase.
12,000 people in evacuation centres have nothing to return HOME to.
Chaos abounds in the sector with some agencies trying to shut others out. No coordination, no management. Just self interest.
I have been in touch with Rotary Australia World Community Service Limited overnight who have substantial DIK in most states and they will dispatch kitchen utensils etc. with urgency.
Have also been in touch with Rotary Australia’s AquaBox, their name for our Emergency Response Kit and we will coordinate with them.
We may also send ERKs from our pre positioned stock in Fiji.
Please continue to impress on your clubs that they should support Rotary in disasters such as this.
Updated Situation as 6 April 2014
There are a total of 19 confirmed deaths and an estimated 52,000 people affected across the Solomon Islands (population 515,870), around half of which are children.
In Honiara (pop. 64,609), there are 17 fatalities, 30 people missing and 12,000 affected. A multi-agency team continues to register people in 13 evacuation centres. The most populated shelters are in east Honiara, with over 3,500 people at Panatina Pavilion and around 1,000 at both the airport terminal and King George VI School. Initial food and water distributions have occurred, although there is urgent need for additional food, water, clothing, blankets, mosquito nets and cooking utensils.
In other areas of Guadalcanal (pop. 93,613), there are two confirmed fatalities and an estimated 40,000 people affected. River systems across the northwest, central and north of the island have flooded, destroying homes, damaging bridges and displacing families. There are also reports of landslides and loss of food gardens.
Other provinces are starting to report impacts, but there is still limited communication to many areas. In Makira-Ulawa (pop. 40,419), an aerial survey was conducted, with the Waihauru Bridge cut-off and reports of damage from a 6.0 magnitude earthquake two days ago. In Malaita (pop. 137,596), floods have destroyed houses and blocked roads. In Isabel (pop. 26,158), a landslide and flooding in Buala has resulted in two deaths, although it is unclear if these fatalities are included in total statistics.
Honiara International Airport has reopened to limited commercial flights as navigation lights are damaged and the domestic terminal is flooded.
The National Referral Hospital is open and accepting new patients. There are concerns flooded areas and contaminated water supplies will lead to increased risks of infection and outbreaks of water-borne and vector-borne diseases.
In Honiara (pop. 64,609), there are 17 fatalities, 30 people missing and 12,000 affected. A multi-agency team continues to register people in 13 evacuation centres. The most populated shelters are in east Honiara, with over 3,500 people at Panatina Pavilion and around 1,000 at both the airport terminal and King George VI School. Initial food and water distributions have occurred, although there is urgent need for additional food, water, clothing, blankets, mosquito nets and cooking utensils.
In other areas of Guadalcanal (pop. 93,613), there are two confirmed fatalities and an estimated 40,000 people affected. River systems across the northwest, central and north of the island have flooded, destroying homes, damaging bridges and displacing families. There are also reports of landslides and loss of food gardens.
Other provinces are starting to report impacts, but there is still limited communication to many areas. In Makira-Ulawa (pop. 40,419), an aerial survey was conducted, with the Waihauru Bridge cut-off and reports of damage from a 6.0 magnitude earthquake two days ago. In Malaita (pop. 137,596), floods have destroyed houses and blocked roads. In Isabel (pop. 26,158), a landslide and flooding in Buala has resulted in two deaths, although it is unclear if these fatalities are included in total statistics.
Honiara International Airport has reopened to limited commercial flights as navigation lights are damaged and the domestic terminal is flooded.
The National Referral Hospital is open and accepting new patients. There are concerns flooded areas and contaminated water supplies will lead to increased risks of infection and outbreaks of water-borne and vector-borne diseases.
PDG Stuart J Batty QSM,JP
Director
RNZWCS Limited (Rotary New Zealand)
PO Box 20309
Christchurch 8543
New Zealand
Ph/Fax 64 3 3599218
cellphone 027 2695615
