11 Feb 2009

Solomons Red Cross says relief now reaching most victims of flooding

7:47 pm on 11 February 2009

The Solomon Islands' Red Cross says aid workers have now been able to get through to about 7000 flood victims to distribute relief supplies.

The floods claimed ten lives nearly two weeks ago and most parts of Guadalcanal have been declared a disaster zone.

Its deputy secretary general, Lorima Tuke, says the government and aid agencies are distributing water, food, blankets and tarpaulins to the victims.

"We had been hampered at the early stages but we managed to go through and did the distribution and up till now we managed to complete the second stage of our relief distribution."

Lorima Tuke says health officials are now on high alert, as they fear an outbreak of water-borne illnesses and have started treating drinking water.