Solomons appeal offers a helping hand

DONATIONS WELCOMED: Ruth Lumukana, left, and Lois Kusilifu, are collecting items to help people affected by catastrophic floods in the Solomon Islands. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA.

Wairarapa people are getting behind the Solomon Islands recovery effort, with an appeal to help people get back on their feet.

Just over a month has passed since massive flash flooding swept away homes, roads, bridges, crops and possessions on the main island of Guadalcanal but the country is still in a state of emergency with the water supply damaged and threat of water-borne diseases spreading.

Some 52,000 people have been affected, 22 have died, 30 are missing and an estimated 10,000 people still have no home to go to after the Mataniko River burst its banks from heavy rain.

Wairarapa DHB pharmacist, Ruth Lumukana, who has family in the Solomon Islands, is helping organise the appeal to collect non-perishable items.

Many people whose homes were destroyed are living in make-shift evacuation centres with uncertain futures, she said.

"They are not sure what will happen."

Mrs Lumukana said her family was coping day by day.

Food is getting expensive, she said, as the flooding devastated crops forcing prices to rise.

CEO of NZ aid group Tear Fund, Ian McInnes, said there was a 400 per cent increase in the price of food staples in the capital of Honiara.

Mrs Lumukana is one of four Solomon Island families living in Wairarapa and there are about 48 people from the Solomon Islands on the Government's seasonal workers scheme in Wairarapa.

"All of us here have families over there."

When she first heard of the flooding, she had no idea if her family was OK because cellphone coverage was down.

"They couldn't get to cellphone coverage for two or three days until the river went down."

Lois Kusilifu, was also left waiting anxiously for news when the flooding happened.

Her parents, who live in Honiara, managed to escape the flooding as they live on higher ground but many of her extended family have been affected.

While many countries have donated financial aid for the clean up, basic goods were now needed for those displaced, she said.

"Clothing and things to keep them warm, that would be the main thing,"

Mrs Kusilifu said there are lots of children in need of clothing and kitchen items that can be used over fire would be helpful.

They have just started collecting items and will be taking them to Wellington on May 15 to fill a container to send over.

Clothing, canned food, blankets, linen, pots and pans, cooking utensils, soap, plates and anything that could help are welcomed.

Mrs Lumukana said anything, however small, would help.

If you can help, drop off items to:

Robson at 29 Atkinson Street. Masterton. Phone: 021 251 9256

Lois at 1 Totara Street, Masterton. Phone: 377 3627

Or for South Wairarapa, Sharlina & Hudson Rurai at 20 Dublin Street Martinborough. Phone 06 3066096 or 0273082824.

They can arrange to collect your items if you have no transport.