PEOPLE in Rennell and Bellona province are faced with an immediate need for food following the destruction left by cyclone Ului last week.
Reports reaching Solomon Star yesterday from the province said most of the fruit trees and food garden are flatten and damaged.
Speaking to Solomon Star yesterday by phone from Tingoa, in west Rennel Brian Soaba a provincial government officer who is also in-charge of the provincial disaster office said families are facing food shortage.
The villagers’ food gardens and fruit trees were battered by the strong wind and heavy rain.
Mr Saoba said the cyclone Ului has really affected them for about a week with the continuous rain and strong wind.
“We are glad that the cyclone had passed by,
“But our fruit trees, such as pawpaw, banana, bread breadfruit have flatten and ripped off by the strong wind,
“While our food gardens are under water as a result of the heavy rain every day in the past week,” he said.
He said the water logged garden have now started to rot and with the return of sunshine most of the root crops such as taro, cassava and potatoes are not fit to eat.
Mr Soaba said the strength of the cyclone had really battered the island for days forcing many families to eat what they have left in the garden.
He said while they are yet to receive help, some families are facing food shortage now.
“The sooner the assessment team reach us, the better,” he said.
He however said there are not much damages to the homes as most of them are permanent.
“There were only two homes being damaged with few others partly damaged,” he said.
Since the passing of cyclone Ului over the weekend from the country, an assessment team from the National Disaster management office has yet to reach the two islands to assess the impact of the cyclone on their food gardens and homes.
The delay has also concern the people in the two province, Mr Saoba said.
Solomon Airlines yesterday also resume its weekly service after it was suspended last week due to the cyclone.
The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) on Saturday made an aerial survey by chopper.
But Mr Saoba said that is not enough.
“Its far more better for the assessment team to be on the ground visiting the various communities and see the damages done to their fruit trees and roots crops.
NDMO Program Officer Julian Maka’a yesterday said a team will be dispatched to the province today.
He said the team will assess the impact of the cyclone done to their food gardens.
Mr Maka’a also acknowledged the water-logged garden which was left by cyclone Ului.
He said based on the assessment team’s report help will be provided.
By Moffat Mamu
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