13 Aug 2007

Shortages in basic supplies in Solomon's Western Province

10:41 am on 13 August 2007

Tsunami victims in parts of the Solomon Island's Western province have been reported to be suffering from a lack of basic necessities.

After the earthquake and wave hit in April, local people are short of supplies of water and food and proper sanitation.

A Community leader, Mambo Fangaria, told the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation that he was urging the government and the responsible authorities to re-visit the victims and assess the situation of food shortage in many parts of the affected areas.

Mr Fangaria was on a goodwill visit with a volunteer group from the Seventh Day Adventist Church to the worst affected areas in Ranongga and Simbo islands.

He says with the cut off in the supply of food by the authorities, most communities struggle each day to find enough to eat to survival.

He says constant tremors have greatly disrupted the growth of crops.

Mr Fangaria says most communities are still wondering why food supplements and other forms of overseas assistance to the victims has stopped.