SOLOMON Islands is officially in the 2024 – 2025 high-risk weather season.
As the local disaster response sector conducts crucial preparation for the potential of a natural disaster, Australia is proud to be working shoulder to shoulder-in support.
On 4 December, Australian High Commissioner Rod Hilton attended an event at the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) along with Hon Trevor Mahaga Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM), Ms Susan Sulu, Permanent Secretary MECDM, Mr Jonathan Tafiariki, Director NDMO and Colonel Justin Bywater, Australian Defence Advisor to Solomon Islands.
During the event, High Commissioner Hilton announced the delivery of a new suite of vital equipment to support disaster relief operations in Solomon Islands. The mission support items, gifted by Australia, included load carriage packs, remote communication devices, life vests, emergency response beacons, medical kits, portable batteries with solar charging, water treatment sets, navigation tools and storage cages.
The equipment also came with a package of specialised training, delivered by the Australian Defence Force, covering operational use, maintenance and logistics management. The first equipment inductions and training sessions were completed in late November and included representatives from across the Solomon Islands humanitarian and disaster relief community including; the NDMO, National Emergency Response Team (NERT), Correctional Services of Solomon Islands, Ministry of Health, Solomon Power, Solomon Water and the United Nations Development Programme.
High Commissioner Hilton said Australia remained committed to supporting the Solomon Islands’ disaster response sector, “this new equipment and training will provide NDMO and other disaster relief agencies the ability to sustain operational capability, particularly when conducting an Initial Situation Overview in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster.”
The initiative forms part of Australia’s broader Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and disaster risk reduction partnership with Solomon Islands, which includes assisting immediately following a disaster, but also working long term to develop Solomon Islands’ sovereign capability.
Australia’s broad HADR program of support includes:
- a commitment to supporting Solomon Islands to develop a national sovereign humanitarian warehouse capability
- institutional disaster management partnerships to improve early warning systems, build response capability and foster interoperability with Australia
- providing training and equipment for disaster management agencies, and
- supporting long term disaster resilience and preparedness.
Colonel Justin Bywater, Australian Defence Advisor to Solomon Islands, highlighted Defence’s comprehensive support to the disaster relief sector in recent years, including:
- The conduct of Exercise Longreach, in conjunction with the Australian Civil-Military Centre, including:
- 2024 – discussion exercise with Solomon Islands Disaster response community to enhance coordination and conduct planning
- 2023 – NDMO disaster planning ahead of the Pacific Games
- 2022 – Savo Island evacuation exercise
- Refurbishment of the NDMO headquarters in Ranadi, including an upgraded operations room in line with Royal Solomon Islands Police Force standards which will be complete by January 2025.
- Refurbishing the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre in Lata which has commenced.
- Construction of a new provincial humanitarian warehouse in Temotu Province which will commence in 2025.
- Training for NDMO and NERT employees under Exercise Coastwatchers 24/3
- ADF membership and hosting of the Pacific Response Group, announced in October 2024 at the South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting, which will provide enhanced ability to jointly respond to climate-induced disasters in the region.
Source: Australia High Commission, Solomon Islands