The Western Solomon Islands are still in need of aid two months after a deadly tsunami struck Choiseul and Western Provinces on April 1st. Remote islands were particularly hard hit and the last to receive assistance. Thirty-nine people were killed and nearly 6,000 made homeless on Remote Simbo Island,

Alex Lokopio, premier of Western Province, reports that many people whose homes were destroyed remain camped on hills. Beyond the immediate need for food, water, medical care and emergency shelter, an enormous amount of repair and rehabilitation work is required over the coming months as communities rebuild. Damaged infrastructure is devastating for the region's tourist industry. The disaster is exacerbating poverty and rendering communities increasingly vulnerable to climate change.

A number of international and local NGOs are providing relief on the ground. The Canadian Red Cross has pledged $100,000. The United Church of Canada and The Primates World Relief and Development Fund of the Anglican Church of Canada both made emergency grants of $10,000 through Action by Churches Together (ACT) International. The Canadian Government through the Canadian International Development Agency has pledged $100,000 and intends to make more funding available through the Canada Fund administered by the High Commission in Canberra. This small grants fund supports community development projects.

Regional assistance to date includes US$1.6 million from Australia, US$50,000 from Brunei Darussalam, US$400,000 from New Zealand, and US$15,000 from Fiji despite the instability of their recent military coup. The Pacific Forum also added US$12,000. Papua New Guinea, The Republic of Kiribati and Indonesia have also contributed. Australian and New Zealand defense forces continue to provide logistics support and medical services.

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Canada's small contribution appears generous next to the $250,000 from the United States. The Solomon Islands ranks next to Somalia on the OECD DAC list of least developed countries yet remains a low priority in terms of the Canadian and US government's overseas development priorities.

Sources:

www.redcross.ca, www.reliefweb.int, www. pwrdf.org, www.united-church.ca, www. radioaustralia.net.au, www.islandsbusiness.com.