CHURCH WORLD SERVICE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM
CWS SITUATION REPORT: SOLOMON ISLANDS EARTHQUAKE/TSUNAMI
April 2, 2007


SITUATION: A magnitude 8.0 earthquake erupted in a South Pacific 
undersea fault line overnight, touching off a tsunami that has killed at 
least 12 in the Solomon Islands. Witnesses have told the Reuters news 
agency waves reached at least 32 feet high, wiping whole buildings and 
even a few villages into the sea.

This tsunami appears not to be as devastating as the 2004 catastrophe, 
which killed nearly 170,000 people in eleven countries. In the Solomons, 
Gizo Island appears to have suffered the worst damage, where at least 
seven perished and whole buildings were washed away. The tsunami struck 
the islands mid-morning, which Solomon Island officials say helped keep 
death tolls somewhat low as people were awake and could flee.

Once a British protectorate, the Solomon Islands have experienced 
significant civil unrest since gaining independence in 1978. 
International peacekeeping efforts have quelled violence for the most 
part and allowed some economic recovery since 2003. Given the Solomon 
Islands' struggle for stability, an international response to this 
disaster is expected.


RESPONSE: The Solomon Islands' recent unrest and its remote location 
make response to this disaster challenging. Church World Service will 
work with international response partner Action by Churches Together 
(ACT) to monitor the situation and explore the best routes to provide 
relief and recovery assistance.

For further information about disasters to which Church World Service is 
responding please visit www.churchworldservice.org or call the CWS 
Hotline, (800) 297-1516 .

CWS Emergency Response Program special contacts: (212) 870-3151
Program Director: dderr@churchworldservice.org
International: flumeya@churchworldservice.org
Domestic: lreedbrown@churchworldservice.org

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