A recent update from the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) Provincial Disaster Committee has highlighted the immediate and effective response of the Church to communities affected by flash-floods in the Solomon Islands.
Flooding at the beginning of April killed over 20 people and left thousands homeless. Evacuation centres, some of which are Anglican institutions, were set up in affected areas. The Church is now reaching over 12,000 people who are taking refuge in these centres.
An emergency relief action and recovery plan was quickly established by ACOM’s Disaster Committee, which proposed a two-phase response.
The first phase ensured support for the most affected families who were based around Matanikau River. Further support reached 27 evacuation centres in Honiara, displaced people in the Guadalcanal plains, and the North Western parts of Guadalcanal.
Phase two includes assistance to the ACOM institutions that have been affected by the flooding, as well as trauma healing and counselling support for those still living in evacuation centres.
ACOM said, “As of today (24th April), most centres have been visited by the Trauma Healing and Counselling team and have shown awareness and greater initiative to rebuild their peace of mind and reconcile with nature and with God.”
The Melanesian Church has mobilised its own resources for the relief response. In addition, funds from the Anglican Missions Board of the Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia, from Episcopal Relief & Development in the US, from Anglican Board of Mission and Anglican Overseas Aid in Australia, and from the Melanesian Mission have enabled the church to continue their effective outreach. And you can continue to support these appeals by following the links at https://anglicanalliance.org/relief/act-now/
The full report from ACOM can be viewed here.
The Disaster Committee ended their report with thanks to all those who have supported their relief efforts so far. They said:
“On behalf of the Church, we as members of the ACOM Provincial Disaster Committee would like to convey our sincere appreciation and acknowledgement to all our overseas mission partners and donors in the immediate positive response to our request for emergency relief effort towards the Honiara and Guadalcanal flash flood victims which affected almost 40,000 people.
“We, therefore, look forward for your continuous support in the recovery and rehabilitation effort to the most affected population and future emergency relief efforts.”
In the picture: ACOM provides families with emergency food supplies
