-Renbel provincial government sends one-month worth of relief supplies to Rennell and Bellona islands amid drought, water and food shortage
-Government disaster agencies silent following Deputy Premier’s call for assistance
BY JOSES SAREN
Renbel Province has begun distributing its own relief supplies to the drought-stricken islands of Rennell and Bellona, with the shipment departing Honiara this evening aboard the vessel Ocean Joy.
The supplies—including rice, canned tuna (Taiyo), noodles, sugar, coffee and water—are valued at roughly $300,000 and funded by Florida Mining Company, the only investor operating in the province.
These supplies are expected to sustain the two islands for about a month.
The provincial government’s relief supplies are shipped along with food and household items that individuals and families are also sending onboard MV Ocean Joy. These include items which the Renbel constituency has refunded following the cargoes lost with MV Anjeanette.
The shipment follows a four-month El Niño drought that has emptied water tanks and withered gardens across the islands, and the July 4th sinking of MV Anjeanette, which had been carrying relief supplies for the province.
Deputy Premier Collin Singamoana Tesu’atai, speaking to Island Sun yesterday afternoon, acknowledged the support while voicing frustration that the national government has yet to formally respond.
The National Disaster Management Office has indicated an assessment could take two to three months, and the province currently does not know who its disaster officer is.
“We feel neglected.
“It’s not fair when they deal urgently with other issues while ignoring others. Anything happening to its provinces is the national government’s responsibility,” Deputy Premier Tesuatai said.
The drought has hit Bellona Island and Ward 3 in Rennell island hardest, forcing residents to find water on the sea shores before the June school break.
Rennell’s water situation is comparatively better, but food is short across both islands, worsened by shipping and flight services that run only once or twice a month.
Tesu’atai credited Renbel Constituency MP John Tuhaika Junior for arranging the vessel and separately funding replacement goods lost in the MV Anjeanette fire.
Premier Eric Sau’eha also negotiated with the mining company to make the supplies possible.
“If not for the company, no one will rush in,” Tesu’atai said.
To officials distributing the aid, his message was direct: “Do not practise the habit of differentiating whatever you send home. Whether these people voted for you or not, help everyone in your ward. Whatever is given through MPA must go straight to the people.”
To Renbel people living in Honiara, he called for coordinated support through provincial leaders.
To those on the islands, he urged caution: “Use wisely whatever little is sent to you. It is not promised to continue every month—we do not have the budget to maintain this.”
Tesu’atai framed his criticism as a call for equal treatment, noting Renbel has never been formally declared a disaster zone despite past cyclones and droughts. He pointed to Cyclone Nina, which badly damaged Bellona, where residents went without government assistance for weeks and rebuilt largely on their own.
“It saddens me to see them not realise what disaster they are to act on,” he said.
According to the National Disaster Management Plan 2018, a ‘disaster’ is defined as – a serious disruption of the functioning of communities or society causing widespread human, material, economic or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected communities or society to cope using normal arrangements and which require special coordination under the arrangements of this Plan.
The Ocean Joy sails this evening with its cargo of relief. Whether the national government responds remains an open question.
People of Rennell and Bellona province are heavily dependent on processed foods, with a few families planting their own gardens to complement the menu.
However, four months of drought has seen a worsening water shortage coupled with food shortage. Making matters worse was no ship servicing the two islands for the last four months.
Families who have some processed foods left, such as rice and canned tuna, have had to strictly ration them, and families with gardens have reportedly shared whatever harvest they have had and are also trying to ration what is left.
Schools are reportedly yet to open their doors following resumption of the third term due to the drought and shortages.
A relief supply provided by the provincial government along with privately sent food items by individuals and families were lost in the devastating fire that led to the sinking of MV Anjeanette on July 4.
Photos: Supplied
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