Community leaders question accuracy of Initial Damage Assessment in west Gizo, Western province in Maila response
BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
Community leaders in West Gizo have raised concerns over the accuracy and transparency of the Initial Damage Assessment (IDA) conducted following the devastation caused by Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Maila.
Villagers from several affected communities have alleged that the assessment process lacked transparency and accountability, resulting in a number of severely affected families being left out of official records.
Chief Frazer Nuapitu of Vorivori Village said officials responsible for carrying out the initial assessment failed to properly document the extent of damage experienced by families in his community.
According to Nuapitu, four families whose homes and kitchens were destroyed during the cyclone were not included in the assessment list.
“If you compare the list with those who were actually affected by the cyclone, there is a huge difference.
“Those who were badly affected were not included in the IDA. Families who lost their homes and kitchens were left out, and that is unfair because they also need assistance,” he said.
Nuapitu said the omissions have created frustration among villagers who expected the assessment to accurately reflect the level of damage suffered during the disaster.
He calls on responsible authorities to review the assessment findings and verify information on the ground to ensure all affected families receive the assistance they deserve.
Similar concerns have also been reported from other communities in West Gizo, where residents claim that some households which suffered significant losses were not captured during the assessment process.
Community leaders are now urging authorities to conduct a review of the assessment data and improve accountability mechanisms to ensure future disaster assessments are carried out fairly and transparently.
The Initial Damage Assessment was undertaken shortly after Cyclone Maila struck Western Province, causing widespread damage to homes, food gardens and community infrastructure across Gizo and surrounding islands.
Authorities are yet to respond to the concerns raised by community leaders.
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