Solomon Islands official defends SBD$75M Cyclone Maila recovery fund

National Disaster Council (NDC) Chairman David Hiba Hiriasia has defended the Solomon Islands government’s SBD$75 million Tropical Cyclone Maila Recovery Fund following scrutiny from Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI). TSI has called for greater accountability, noting that families in Western and Choiseul provinces continue to wait for assistance and lack clear information regarding fund management and spending.

Chairman Hiriasia stated that tangible shelter assistance is expected to reach affected communities in Western and Choiseul Provinces within the next two months. He described the initiative as the largest shelter recovery program in the country in over 20 years. While formal allocations from the NDC Special Fund await final processing, procurement is underway, and materials for the first 20 houses in Gizo have already been secured.

The NDC is working with the Western Provincial Government to validate damage assessments and beneficiary lists to prevent political interference. Additionally, emergency water assistance is being deployed to combat El Niño-induced drought, with support from the Australian Government and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).