BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
COMMUNITIES in West Gizo, Western Province, are urgently calling on the government and relevant authorities to construct seawalls to protect coastal villages from the increasing impacts of sea level rise and extreme weather conditions.
Provincial Member for Ward 11, Tapuia Ereibati said the recent cyclone served as a wake-up call after strong waves and high tides swept through several villages, causing flooding and damaging properties.
He said seawater ran through homes and community areas during the bad weather, leaving many families fearful for their safety and future.
Ereibati said coastal erosion and rising sea levels are becoming more serious every year, threatening homes, food gardens and livelihoods.
“Our people are living in fear whenever there is bad weather. During the recent cyclone, seawater entered the village and affected many homes. We really need seawalls to protect our communities,” he said.
Ereibati said many villages in West Gizo are located along low-lying coastal areas and are highly vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters.
He is now appealing to the national government and development partners to prioritise seawall projects before the situation worsens.
Ereibati warned that without proper protection, future cyclones and king tides could force some families to relocate from their ancestral land.
The call comes as Solomon Islands continues to experience the growing impacts of climate change, with coastal communities across the country facing threats from sea level rise, coastal erosion and severe weather events.
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