Prime Minister, Hon. Jeremiah Manele, visited Gaomai Village in the Shortland Islands Sunday as part of his ongoing solidarity visit to communities affected by Tropical Cyclone Maila.
Gaomai Village, home to an estimated 500 people, is among the communities impacted by the cyclone.
During the visit, the Prime Minister, accompanied by the Member of Parliament for Shortland Islands, Isikeli Vave Jnr, Chairman of the National Disaster Council (NDC) Mr. David Hiriasia Hiba, the Australian High Commissioner, H.E Jeff Roach and senior officials from the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, met with community members and delivered relief supplies, including rice.
Addressing the people of Gaomai and the wider Shortland Islands, Prime Minister Manele encouraged communities to continue supporting one another during this challenging period.
“In times like these, it is important that we stand together and support each other. Our strength as Solomon Islanders lies in our resilience and unity,” the Prime Minister said.
He reassured communities that the Government will continue to provide support where possible as response and recovery efforts progress.
“The Government will continue to work to support you. While we are here to bring assistance, we also recognise that this is a difficult time, and we do not expect much from our people as they cope with the impacts of this disaster,” he said.
Prime Minister Manele noted that while it was important for the Government to reach affected communities, it was unfortunate that the visit came during a time of crisis.
He further encouraged communities not only to focus on rebuilding but also to prepare for future weather events, emphasising the importance of resilience and readiness.
“Even as we rebuild, we must also prepare ourselves for future events. Our resilience as a people will see us through,” he added.
The Prime Minister also expressed appreciation for the warm welcome accorded to him and his delegation, and acknowledged the continued support from the Government of Australia in assisting Solomon Islands’ disaster response efforts.
Following the visit to Gaomai Village, the Prime Minister and his delegation travelled to Nila Catholic Station, where they visited the Mini Hospital and the newly opened isolation unit, acknowledging the importance of maintaining essential health services during disaster response.
The visit forms part of the Prime Minister’s broader solidarity mission to Western Province, demonstrating the National Government’s commitment to stand with and support affected communities in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Maila.
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