Emergencies
 Solomon Islands. Play Safe Area in Solomon Islands, established by Save the Children following the tsunami (Copyright: Save the Children Australia)

Solomon Islands Tsunami

In April 2007, a tsunami struck the north western parts of the Solomon Islands, causing significant damage. Fifty two people lost their lives.  It is estimated that over 10,000 people were displaced, including 6,000 children.

With significant support from the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) , who provided almost 60% of the funding, Save the Children started in rolling out play safe areas in the second week of April.

Save the Children was one of the first agencies to reach affected areas and was able to start its emergency response immediately.

Save the Children Australia also received support from Save the Children New Zealand, ANZ Bank, UNICEF, Save the Children UK, Save the Children US and from the Australian public.  Save the Children Australia would like to thank all our supporters who donated so generously to this emergency appeal.

With the generous support, Save the Children was able to:

  • Set up 85 play safe areas for over 8,000 children in Gizo, Shimbo, Vela la Vela, Kolambangara, and South Choiseul to play and learn. Children went through structured play and learning activities in play safe area and return to normalcy gradually. This is a proven method in returning a sense of normality in such context. 
  • Working in partnership with other agencies such as Global Medic, we installed 20 portable water filter systems on different islands to provide drinking water including hospitals in Munda and Gizo.   We also distributed much needed water to remote areas such as Rendova Island and Mandale using helicopters and a sea based distribution system.
  • Provided family tools for gardening to at least 500 families. Implemented eight projects to increase food production for local families on Gizo Island.
  • Trained 65 staff over 300 young people as volunteers, including teachers, from the local communities in working with children, organising child focused activities and referring welfare needs of children and families to Social Welfare Division of the Solomon Government.  
  • Provided cooperative games kits and other resources to support safe spaces already established by communities. 

Save the Children Australia’s response would not have been as effective without the invaluable support of our Youth Outreach Program volunteers.  These young people kept members of the community informed and helped us to ensure that the services we provided reached the community.

Save the Children Australia has been active in the Solomon Islands since 1986 working with communities to address the issues that hinder the development of children and young people. 

 

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Relevant links

Link Arrow. Arrow (Copyright: International Save the Children Alliance)Media centre - Save the Children Australia: contact Sharyn Hanly:  +61 3 9938 2011 or Mob: 0418 560 810