The Government has been urged to maintain food assistance to communities still struggling with food shortages more than four months after Tropical Cyclone Maila.
Opposition leader Manasseh Sogavare said reports from Mondo and Lale communities on Ranongga Island showed that some families were still unable to produce enough food to meet their daily needs.
Community leaders have reported that replanted food gardens are yet to produce sufficient crops to sustain families.
Continued bad weather and pest infestations have further slowed recovery, leaving some households dependent on previously distributed rice and wild taro, locally known as kakake.
“These reports are deeply concerning,” Sogavare said in a statement.
“The communities are working hard to restore their gardens, but conditions beyond their control are making recovery difficult,” he added.
“They are not asking for indefinite assistance. They are asking for continued food support until their gardens can once again sustain their families.”
The Government has said recovery assistance will take time, as funding announced from various sources must go through the respective approval and implementation processes.
Sogavare said affected communities should be kept informed about the recovery process, but calls for patience must be matched with practical assistance for families facing immediate hardship.
“People understand that recovery takes time, but hunger cannot be put on hold while funding processes are completed,” he said.
“Where families are still unable to produce enough food, targeted food distributions should continue until they are able to meet their own needs again.”
Sogavare said the significant assistance announced by the Government and its development partners had understandably raised expectations among communities affected by the cyclone.
He said the people of Western and Choiseul provinces had shown considerable resilience in the face of the disaster and deserved continued support throughout the recovery period.
“The people of Western and Choiseul provinces have demonstrated tremendous strength and resilience.
“The Government must stand with them until they can restore their food security and livelihoods,” he said.
“The Government has asked affected communities to be patient. But patience does not put food on the table.
“Families need clear information, continued assistance and visible progress in their communities.”
