ACT Information Update No. 2
Solomon Islands Earthquake and Tsunami
3 April 2007


An 8.0 magnitude earthquake that triggered a tsunami that measured 
between two and 10 metres in places, struck the Solomon Islands at 07:40 
local time on Monday 2nd April (20:40 GMT Sunday), killing at least 20 
people, leaving thousands homeless, and destroying at least 13 villages 
in the most severely affected Choiseul and Western Provinces.

Government and Red Cross disaster teams are taking tents and supplies to 
the affected areas. Australia has offered A$2 million ($1.6 million) in 
aid, while New Zealand offered NZ$500,000 ($360,000) and sent an 
airforce plane loaded with supplies, including water containers, 
blankets, tarpaulins, food and lamps according to the news agency 
Reuters. The United Nations said it had a full Disaster Assessment and 
Coordination team on standby for deployment to the Solomons.

ACT member Christian World Service (CWS), New Zealand, launched an 
emergency appeal to support the people of the Solomon Islands. CWS said 
that while reports are still sketchy, in both places (Choiseul and 
Western Provinces) there has been widespread property damage and loss of 
life.

Ruth Liloqula from CWS's partner, the Lauru Land Conference based in 
Choiseul, reported that two metre high waves travelled up to 200 metres 
inland, causing major property destruction and contaminating drinking 
water. "It is indeed a very big concern and I just hope that our people 
got to safer ground," Liloqula said.  Her family home, which had already 
been damaged by the rise in sea level, was swept away by the tsunami. 
CWS said in a news release that it is clear that beyond the immediate 
need both for essential food, water, medical care and emergency shelter 
there is going to be an enormous amount of repair and rehabilitation 
work required.  CWS will use the money raised from its appeal to support 
communities over the coming months as they rebuild and re-establish 
their lives.

The following information has also been received by the ACT CO:

>From Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) early this morning
(April 3rd):

* Anglican Board of Mission (Australia) is a partner with the Church of 
Melanesia and they will be responding in a way that is to be determined. 
ABM has made some emergency funding available, but don't envisage the 
need to issue a large scale appeal.

The National Council of Churches in Australia/Christian World Service 
has links to the Solomon Islands Christian Association (SICA) and also 
do not anticipate the need for a major response.


ALWS does not plan any response for the following reasons:

* Unless assessments over the next few days reveal something unexpected 
the scale of the emergency, there will be no major intervention.

* The Australian government has a significant footprint in the Solomons 
through the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) & 
A$2 million has already been allocated for relief activities


US-based ACT member Church World Service reports that the Solomon 
Islands' recent unrest and its remote location make response to this 
disaster challenging. Church World Service will work with ACT 
International to monitor the situation and explore the best routes to 
provide relief and recovery assistance.

Background information: 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.

As a result of British colonial policy, the western part of the country 
was given to the Methodist Mission. The Anglican Church is on Isabel and 
Gualdalcanal and the Roman Catholic Church on Malaita. As a consequence, 
the United Church is the main church in the Western Province and next to 
the government the main organizing power for society. Its partner in 
Australia is the Uniting Church and the Australian Council of Churches. 
In New Zealand, the Methodist Church is its historical mission partner.


Jaap Schep of The Lutheran World Federation in Geneva, who was the 
development advisor for the United Church for 7 years (1992-1999) 
writes that communications with the United Church is not possible at the 
moment as telephone lines are down, although there may be short wave 
radio contact with the Honiara United Church. He writes that the 
clinic/hospital on the shoreline of Southern Choiseul was swept away, 
along with 300 houses. Schep adds that this area is very much exposed, 
as the reef is rather low, which must have caused the high tidal wave.

On Simbo and Ranongga, the closest islands to the epicentre, the 
villages are more elevated on the shore. In Vella Lavella and Gizo 
damage must be considerable (as they are closer to the epicentre than 
Choiseul).

As the houses are built from bush material (wooden structure and woven 
mats) the main need will be for roofing sheets, gutters and water tanks.

The government hospital in Gizo was also severely damaged, but not swept 
away. There is concern that the United Church main hospital (Helena 
Goldie Hospital) in Munda may have been affected as well, as it is built 
on a low peninsular point directly exposed to the epicentre.

Please note that ACT has no locally registered member in the Solomon 
Islands.

For more information, please contact in the ACT CO:

Program Officer: Asia, Pacific and Europe: Michelle Yonetani:
++41-22-791- 6035 E-mail: myo@act-intl.org

Communications Officer: Callie Long: ++41-22-791-6039

In New Zealand:
CWS Media Officer - Ruth Greenaway
  ph: 03 366 9274 mob: 021 238 7710 fax: 03 365 2919
  Email: communications@cws.org.nz  www.cws.org.nz

ACT Communications
Geneva, Switzerland
+41 22 791 6039/6711
fax: +41 22 791 6506
www.act-intl.org

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