Disaster relief budget available for recent quake victims: Manetoali

Minister for Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Hon Samuel Manetoali

ABOUT SBD$3million is still in budget for emergency relief, confirms the Minister responsible for national disaster management during parliament sitting on Friday December 9.

Minister for Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Hon Samuel Manetoali, during the parliament sitting last week, announced to the house that SBD$3M is still left in their budget which goes towards supporting affected communities of the earthquake.

Minister Manetoali said, “Initial reports received from the province through Disaster toll free communication, 47 houses are report affected in Malaita and Makira.

“Most of the houses affected in Malaita related to the effect of the shake while Tsunami has ceased extensive damages in Makira.

“More than 3000 people reported affected in Malaita and Makira, and it is anticipated that there will be more access to information as people in the affected area have limited communication especially the southern part of Makira.”

With this plight of emergency, Mr Manetoali said the NDMO and Finance are presently looking at resources to mobilise and attend to affected areas and they have resources under their relief budget to meet some of these needs.

He also adds that their partners have also offered assistance and they working on gathering information on affected areas to further commence with relief agency.

To conduct an aerial assessment by the MDMO, Minister Manetoali said, “Lead assessment team requested by the government of Solomon Islands through RSIPF carryout initial situation overview which the report will ready in three day although the aerial assessment report will be ready as soon as the team returns.”