9 Jul 2014

Land issues hurt flood victims in Solomons

7:33 pm on 9 July 2014

The head of Oxfam in Solomon Islands says a lack of access to land has left people more vulnerable following the severe flooding in April.

About 1,000 people who were displaced by flooding in Honiara are still living in evacuation centres, while they wait to be repatriated to their home villages.

Oxfam's country director Katie Greenwood says while many have established their lives in Honiara, the government is encouraging families to return to their villages, because there are a lack of options.

"Land is a very contentious issue particularly in Honiara and so where people have not had access legally to being able to claim their land, that leaves them in a very precarious and vulnerable situation so from our conversations people aren't always happy about the situation but they do understand [there are] a lack of options."

Katie Greenwood says some people are disappointed with the repatriation package provided by the government.