THE Livelihood Sector Committee (LSC) in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) has received an overwhelming support of needed food supplies from the Australian Government on Thursday 27th January, 2022.
The food supplies will be distributed by the LSC distribution team to communities in Honiara to sustain them during the lockdown.
The relief assistance was provided in response to Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s call for support as the country continue its fight to manage and control the pandemic (Covid-19) community transmission.
The first supplies worth SBD$1.2 million and includes 22,000 of 20kg bags of rice and 7,000 cartons of tuna.
Receiving the first delivery is the Permanent Secretary of MAL, Ethel Tebengi Frances.
“Australia is always there during our challenging time so please accept our profound appreciation” Permanent Secretary said as she thanked the Australia High Commissioner during the delivery.
Permanent Secretary went on to say “that our Pacific neighbours are going through difficult times too at the moment like Tonga with the volcano and tsunami, with Samoa, Palau and Kiribati on lockdown as well, so I know as a Pacific Family Australia will be there too for them so to still get this amount of support is a blessing for our people and is heart-warming.”
Australian High Commission officer assists with storage of food supplies. Photo courtesy of Australian High Commission.
Livelihood Chairman Michael Ho’ota also recognised Australia’s generous and continuous support to Solomon Islands in difficult times like this.
He said Australia like any other donor partners is always stand by Solomon Islands in its difficult and challenging times and he assured the High Commission that the relief supplies will be distributed to communities to support peoples livelihoods during the lockdown.
As of Thursday 27th January 2022, a total of 707 individuals have been assisted by the LSC since 23 January 2022 in response to this latest lockdown.
There are two response plans that the Livelihood Sector Committee is undertaking, first is relief response to ships on lockdown, to isolated communities and households (Isolation households) that on isolation after a member or members of their families are tested positive for Covid-19, and relief response to the general public.
Relief response to the general public which include food distribution to communities commences today.
The LSC is co-headed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL), Ministry of Fisheries and Honiara City Council together with other stakeholders and partners. The Committee is working closely with Honiara City Council on the food delivery mechanism.
– MAL Press
Featured Photo: Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Ethel Tebengi Frances and Acting Australian High Commissioner, Sally-Anne Vincent with food supplies for communities in Honiara. Photo courtesy of Australian High Commission.