ReliefWeb

Salient Points

• Torrential rain and river overflow in Honiara, Guadalcanal,
  Malaita and Isabel Provinces caused massive flooding, damages and displacement between 3 and 5 April 2014.

• Two earthquakes (7.2 and 7.7 in magnitude) have shaken Solomon Islands in the last few days, triggering tsunami warnings and evacuations, but fortunately no tsunami.
  Rapid assessments have not revealed any visible damage, but relief efforts were delayed while people twice evacuated high risk areas.

• Destruction or serious damage of entire residential and business communities in Honiara; serious damage to small scale and large commercial agriculture and infrastructure, including water sources, in Guadalcanal,
  Makira-Ilawa and Malaita

• 10,653 people are living in 33 evacuation centres in Honiara. Honiara City Council (10 April) reports around 4,000 of these evacuees are children aged 0-16.

• Destroyed or damaged bridges are still limiting mobility and access, but repairs have started and detailed sector assessments and assessments in rural Guadalcanal are being carried out.

• Some electricity and water systems restored; large numbers remain dependent on emergency tank trucks or water purification tablets that need to be replenished.

• Critical ongoing needs are site management; food, clean water (including water purification tablets) and sanitation, hygiene supplies, health care (esp. diarrhea, malaria, dengue, respiratory, eye and skin infections), counselling services, protection of vulnerable people. Other needs identified include blankets, clothing, micro-nutrient powder sachets, zinc, fuel and cooking utensils, school restoration to minimize delay in resumption of classes.

• Government has identified a standard return package of 33 items for family and livelihood use.

• Humanitarian action plan for three months is being written.