United Nations releases $1.8 million to support life-saving activities in flood-affected Solomon Islands

(Suva, 29 May 2014): The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has released US$1.8 million (SBD 13.1 million) to provide critical humanitarian support to flood-affected people in the Solomon Islands.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) will use the funds to deliver life-saving activities, including health, nutrition, immunization, reproductive health, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programmes.

“The funding will support ongoing relief operations targeting the most at-risk populations, mainly women and children, in Honiara and greater Guadalcanal,” said Ms. Osnat Lubrani, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Solomon Islands. “Funds will be dispersed through UN agencies on the ground who are working with humanitarian partners in evacuation centres and flood-affected areas.”

Funding allocations were based on the most critical immediate response activities outlined in the Humanitarian Action Plan which was endorsed by the National Disaster Council in April. The plan was developed based on a needs analysis conducted by Solomon Islands Government ministeries, the Pacific Humanitarian Team and humanitarian partners.

A total of $709,054 will be used by UNICEF to provide emergency WASH interventions for women and children, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and World Vision Solomon Islands, Solomon Islands Red Cross and Save the Children. UNICEF has also been allocated $275,062 to deliver emergency child health and nutrition services through MHMS.

“Nearly 24,000 children under the age of five are at risk of disease outbreaks and malnutrition,” said Dr. Karen Allen, UNICEF Pacific Representative. “By implementing an immunization and nutrition campaign, the incidence of illness and even death will be reduced in both evacuation centres and affected areas.”

WHO received $626,433 and will work with MHMS to provide emergency health services. The funds will support disease surveillance and outbreak control, nutrition screening, emergency repair of health facilities and the procurement of essential drugs and health supplies.

“Almost two months into this emergency, the main concern is the outbreak of disease and the actions needed to prevent further outbreaks and to strengthen surveillance,” said Dr. Audrey Aumua, Acting WHO Representative in the Solomon Islands.

A total of $165,574 has been provided to UNFPA to ensure reproductive health and protection outreach services can be made available to internally displaced people in evacuation centres and to those who have returned home to flood-affected areas.

“This funding will cover a range of assistance, such as the distribution of kits to pregnant women and mothers with newborns, and the resupply of hospitals and clinics with reproductive health medications and equipment,” said Dr. Laurent Zessler, UNFPA Pacific Director and Representative. “Grants will also be provided to community-based organizations, including the Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association and the Christian Care Centre.”

CERF is a humanitarian fund established by the UN General Assembly in 2006 to enable more timely and reliable humanitarian assistance to people affected by natural disasters and armed conflicts. The fund is managed, on behalf of the UN Secretary-General, by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Valerie Amos, Head of OCHA.

For further information, please contact:
Ms. Osnat Lubrani, UN RC & HC for Solomon Islands, osnat.lubrani@one.un.org, Mobile: +679 999 1651 Ms. Elisabeth McLeod, OCHA, mcleode@un.org, Mobile: +679 999 1423

OCHA Regional Office for the Pacific press releases are available at www.unocha.org/rop or www.reliefweb.int.