BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
FOURTEEN communities on Gizo Island have received much-needed relief supplies following the devastating impact of Cyclone Maila.
Volunteers from the Solomon Islands Red Cross Western Branch yesterday completed the distribution of relief items to more than 30 affected households across the communities.
The relief supplies included tarpaulins, shelter kits, kitchen sets, hygiene kits and household kits.
The items were donated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Save the Children and the Australian Government through AusAid.
Red Cross Western Branch volunteer team leader, Samantha Ratu said the distribution targeted households identified through assessments conducted after the cyclone.
She said beneficiaries included families whose homes were partially damaged, those who lost their homes entirely, households with children and people living with disabilities.
“Recipients are the ones who have lost part of their house, completely lost their houses and also families with children as well as people with disability,” Ratu said.
She acknowledged the support of donor partners and the efforts of Red Cross volunteers in Western Province who assisted to deliver the supplies to affected communities.
“The items were donated by our donor partners while Red Cross volunteers in Western Province helped with the distribution to the affected families,” Ratu said.
Community leaders and women have welcomed the assistance, saying the supplies will help ease the burden on families as they continue rebuilding their lives after the cyclone.
One of the recipients, Vorivori village resident Maxwell Gori, described the relief supplies as a blessing for his family.
Gori said a large tree fell onto his family’s kitchen during Cyclone Maila, destroying cooking utensils and damaging part of the structure.
He said the damage forced the family to prepare meals in the open for weeks after the disaster.
“This tarpaulin and kitchen set are a huge blessing for me and my family. I wholeheartedly acknowledge the donor partners, the government and the Red Cross Western Branch for these supplies,” Gori said.
The 50-year-old lives with his wife and grandchildren and vividly remembers the terrifying night Cyclone Maila struck the village.
“There was no rain, only the wind. It was really strong. We watched in awe as the wind rushed through the village. All of a sudden, a branch broke from a nearby tree and landed on our kitchen,” he recalled.
Gori said the family endured sleepless nights as powerful winds battered the village, bringing down tree branches and causing widespread damage.
The relief distribution forms part of ongoing humanitarian efforts to assist communities affected by Cyclone Maila as recovery work continues across Western Province.
Photo credit: Ben Bilua
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