Relief Group Responds to Deadly Tsunami
One of the world's largest Christian relief groups is responding to the massive undersea quake that triggered a tsunami, wiping away entire villages on Solomon Islands in the South Pacific on Monday.
World Vision, which is also one of the largest NGO's (non-governmental organization) in the Solomon Islands, reported that it aims to address the immediate need for emergency shelter and food, according Paul Martell, interim national director.
It is estimated that up to 60,000 people were affected by the morning tsunami, which struck hardest on the west side of the nation, according to the Christian aid group.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
The town of Gizo, west of Solomon Islands, was one of the hardest hit areas being only 25 miles from the epicenter of the 8-magnitude undersea quake. There are about 1,000 residents in the town with 25 deaths reported so far. Moreover, the local hospital is said to be flooded with water, hindering efforts to aid the injured, according to WV.
"It was just a noise like an underground explosion," said Dorothy Parkinson, a resident of Gizo, according to The Associated Press. "The wave came almost instantaneously. Everything that was standing is flattened."
Some witnesses have said the waves were as high as 16-feet tall.
The tsunami is among the strongest to hit the archipelago in more than three decades and was followed by more than two dozen aftershocks, according to AP.
Current problems include homeless families, lack of access to clean water after the collapse of water tanks, and the lack of small traders around the coastline contributing to ongoing food shortages. WV reports that assessment is currently underway to determine how to restore water and sanitation.
The Solomon Islands consists of more than 200 islands northeast of Australia with a population of about 552,000 people, according to AP. It lies on the Pacific Basin's "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines where quakes frequently occur.
