ADRA Australia Assists Solomon Islands Tsunami Survivors
6 April 2007
Wahroonga, New South Wales—To meet the immediate needs of survivors from the 2 April earthquake-triggered tsunami that hit western Solomon Islands, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Australia is responding in the islands of Vella Lavella, Ranongga and south Choiseul.
ADRA is providing household item kits that include plates and cutlery for six people, a bush knife, a spade and crowbar to assist with sanitation needs, as well as a hammer and nails. The project, valued at US$25,000, is funded by ADRA Australia, ADRA International and ADRA New Zealand.
ADRA is also setting up a base for its relief operations at the Kukudu Adventist College on the island of Kolombangara.
The Solomon Island National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), which is providing the overall coordination of relief, has hired ships that will sail regularly to transport items to the islands. ADRA is working in coordination with the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s district directors to distribute the items.
A staff member from ADRA Australia, already elsewhere in the Solomon Islands last week for a monitoring trip, has arrived in Honiara this morning to provide support to the ADRA Solomon Islands response effort. ADRA Fiji plans to deploy an additional emergency response expert to the Solomon Islands on Tuesday.
Yesterday, Acting Country Director for ADRA Solomon Islands, Matthew Brown, was onboard a helicopter chartered to conduct assessments. “In most areas the water appears to have subsided,” states Mr. Brown. “However, the infrastructure in many villages appears to have been damaged and numerous villages are in need of immediate assistance.”
ADRA, and its non-governmental organisation (NGO) partners, are meeting this afternoon for ongoing planning with the Development Services Exchange (DSE).
To enable ADRA Australia to respond immediately to disasters like this, donations can be made to ADRA’s general Disaster and Famine Relief Fund online or on 1800 242 372.
The earthquake, of a magnitude between 7.8 and 8.1 occurred at 7:40 local time. The epicentre of the earthquake was about 40km south of Ghizo, Western Province. Small tremors were still being reported a day later.
ADRA Australia engages in sustainable development programs and disaster relief for people in Australia and abroad and is part of the ADRA network, which has a presence in 125 countries. It is signatory to the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) Code of Conduct. For more information about ADRA Australia visit www.adra.org.au.
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