The European Union (EU) yesterday gave 178,900Euro to World Vision, providing much needed support for the Temotu tsunami relief response and recovery.
EU Ambassador, Martin Dihm, and two other EU members visited World Vision Solomon Islands (WVSI) Country Office yesterday to learn more about World Vision’s response to the Temotu tsunami and at the same time present funding that will assist fund initial relief activities currently unfunded and also the recovery phase of the disaster response.
World Vision Solomon Islands Country Director, Dr. Andrew Catford, thanked the EU for their flexible support and much needed funding saying that the contribution will greatly assist World Vision to continue its recovery efforts.
“The funding will support relief efforts that occurred from the day the tsunami occurred including providing relief supplies, transport and distribution as World Vision was the first and largest to respond to the emergency in the province,” said Dr. Catford.
“The funds will also enable recovery activities in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) to communities including WASH system design so that schools, clinics and community WASH systems can be redeveloped.”
It was an 8.0 magnitude earthquake followed by a tsunami that devastated villages near Lata in Temotu Province Solomon Islands on Wednesday 6 February 2013 killing eleven people and leaving nearly 6000 people homeless.
World Vision has been responding to the disaster in Temotu since the day the tsunami swept through Santa Cruz and was requested by the National Disaster Management Office and Provincial Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate the distribution efforts of the non-food items as well as the logistical support of food and water in the province during the initial relief stage.
World Vision is currently implementing a series of recovery projects in the province together with the NDMO, Province and other stakeholder.
World Vision is the largest International Non-Government Organization (INGO) currently operating in the Solomon Islands and has a permanent presence in Temotu through several long-term development projects.
Press Release, World Vision