THE Makira-Ulawa Provincial Disaster Operation Committee from Kirakira has successfully completed assessment on Ulawa Island communities affected by the recent heavy rain which caused severe flooding in various areas and damaged food gardens.
The team which consists of representatives from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, Red Cross, Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock and the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) arrived by boat on Thursday last week from Kirakira in spite of bad weather.
Eddie Quiroquiro from the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) said the team has completed visiting the flood-affected areas as well as other communities and is working on its report.
“Our team, as soon as we arrived, went out to visit the communities that have been flooded by the heavy rainfall few weeks ago.”
He said from the assessment carried out, they found that many food gardens rotting and fruit trees dying.
“Potatoes, cassava, Pana, the commonly planted root crops that people plant are now rotting and people are now starting to experience food shortage because their gardens – their main source of food where their families rely very much on – have been damaged,” Mr Quiroquiro said.
He added that no infrastructure was affected by the flood, except for one culvert which was badly damaged.
Mr Quiroquiro said it was evident from the assessment that not only the flooded areas were affected by the recent heavy rainfall but all of Ulawa as all food gardens have been destroyed.
He said as soon as they complete the compilation of their reports, they will send them to relevant authorities to consideration for relief assistance.
By Lionel Taorao
Freelance Journalist
