Torrential rain during the weekend has severely affected food gardens and fruit trees on the areas where more than 80 villages have been affected by the weekend floods, when floods rose 8-10 meters to overwhelm most of the river bank villages Sunday afternoon.

Most of the affected communities are situated along the two main rivers of Mbokokimbo and Monga rivers.

In both areas, more than 3000 people are forced to move to higher grounds when the flood ran over river banks and into villages. Floods have also destroyed pig pens and poultry houses. No casualties have yet been reported.

A local elder of Tupa village near the Mbokokimbo River, Mr Warren George, has yesterday, called on responsible authorities to immediately send assessments teams to the areas so that some form of relief assistance can be given to the affected communities.

Mr George said most of the villages on the Mbokokimbo delta have virtually all their food gardens ravaged by the flood.

“More than 95 percent of our food gardens are totally destroyed. What makes the situation all more difficult is the fact that even fruit trees like bananas that usually support us in these situations are also being destroyed.”

“The flood has also washed away the coconuts seeds from our plantations. It is only fortunate that the rain finally stopped and the flood receded,” said Mr George.
Mr George has also called on the Parliament Members and Provincial Members from the areas to visit and assist in providing relief assistance to the areas.

“The people are suffering and they need immediate assistance from somebody, especially our politicians,” he said.

The Solomon Islands Meteorogical Service said the heavy rains were the result of a trough caused by the meeting of moderate southeasterly trade winds from the different islands, and the weather has also affected other islands in the country, notably Makira and Temotu provinces.

Climate Section Officer of the Meteorological Service, Mr Lloyd Tahani said rainfall at the Henderson Station for the past week rose 175% to 165 mm, compared to 24 mm for the same week last year.

He said the climate condition experienced during the period from Friday 22nd to Wednesday 27th June 2007 was an ‘unusual condition’ from the normal climate condition during the month of June.

A representative from the Disaster Office said relief assistance would be given to the flood victims when the assessment team produces a report on their findings.