The Chairman of the National Disaster Council, David Hiba Hiriasia, clarifies contradicting reports surrounding the current emergency relief operations in affected areas.
Hiriasia said the current emergency relief operations are deployed to the affected communities to complement their survival efforts following the category 4 tropical cyclone Maila recently.
Western and Choiseul provinces were declared on Friday as disaster zones, while relief operations will also cover affected areas in Isabel, Central and Guadalcanal provinces.
Hiriasia said the deployment of emergency relief supplies is critical for the survival of the impacted communities.
These included critical medical supplies, food, water and temporary shelter kits and other basic non-food items.
The NDC Chair further explained that the current emergency relief operations do not include the recovery phase, such as rebuilding critical infrastructures, schools, medical facilities and devastated homes.
“The recovery phase will come at a later time when all emergency relief operations are successfully concluded,” Hiriasia said.
The National Government, through the National Disaster Council, is beefing up coordinated emergency relief efforts to ensure the timely availability of financial resources to support response operations and the effective delivery of assistance to affected provinces and communities.
The NDMO, through the NEOC, continues to work closely with all stakeholders to ensure a coordinated, timely, and effective response to Tropical Cyclone Maila, prioritising the needs of affected and vulnerable communities.
- NEOC Media
