BY LORETTA B MANELE
The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) in collaboration with Central Province Provincial Emergency Response Team (PERT) officially commenced a coordinated five-day Initial Damage Assessment for Central Province on Saturday, May 16, 2026.
The Ministry of Environment Climate Change Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) in a statement yesterday said the operation began in Tulagi where NDMO officers arrived to conduct a formal briefing with the local PERT members.
MECDM said a key component of the preparation included a specialised training session for the response team with the use of the Kobo Collect Application; a digital tool designed to enhance accuracy and efficiency of field data collection during disaster evaluations.
After orientation, teams were deployed to Savo Island and the Russell Islands on Sunday, May 17th and field assessments were carried out extensively across both locations from Monday, 18 May through Wednesday, 20, May 2026.
MECDM said these assessments are important to identify local needs and develop informed recovery strategies.
The PERT teams will return to Tulagi today for a thorough debriefing and to finalise the official assessment data and reports.
The mission will conclude tomorrow as NDMO officers travel back to Honiara.
MECDM said this assessment represents an important step in the government’s ongoing response to TC Maila to identify impacts, priorities and for the development of an informed recovery strategy to get affected communities back to their normal way of life.
Photo credit: MECDM
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