22 April 2007 The Tablet A MontHLY NEWslEttER to THE CatHolIcs of THE DUNEDIN DIocESE T HE T ABLE T (INCORPORATING THE DIOCESAN NEWS) 22 April 2007 Issue No. 120 Disaster in the Solomon Islands Fr Kevin Toomey OP was in his home town of Dunedin when the earthquake and subsequent tsunamis of April 2 struck, with devastating effect, the region of the Solomon Islands where he lived and worked for four years until a few months ago. Since the disaster Fr Kevin has been in regular contact with his friends there and has written the following article for Tablet, based on notes of a conversation with Bishop Bernard O’Grady, Catholic Bishop of Gizo, in Gizo, on 11 April: Today, nine days after the first jolts, I spoke again with Bishop Bernard O’Grady, the Bishop of Gizo. At 75, he is battling indifferent health, having just offered his resignation as bishop to Pope Benedict XVI. I sensed his grief for all that has happened, and his own loss and bewilderment in the face of this natural evil. Sister Dora OP and three Dominican Brothers on the wharf at Loga. That wharf no longer exists, nor do the two Last evening was the first time since April villages of Nusubaruu and Fishing Village, visible in the background. The tsunami destroyed them all. 2 that there had been a torrential downpour. Photo provided by Fr Toomey It sent some people scampering back to the ruins of their homes to sleep. But the Gilbertese village), and New Mundra. Some They will need chainsaws to seek out any majority of the people are still living away people from these villages are still missing. millable timber that may remain inland, to from the coast in the bush, scared of further As well, Nusabaruku (a Gilbertese village of rebuild their homes. This is the next and predicted major earthquakes. In fact, the two about 100 people) and Fishing Village (where most difficult aftermath phase. very strong earthquakes felt on the night after Malaitan people live), both in Gizo harbour, In the last few days there have been more the major 8.1 jolt had their epicentre much were wiped out, because they are built out major earthquakes in the NW, around the nearer to the Shortland Islands, in the North over the sea. There, 11 people have died: two Shortland Islands, reinforcing the first round West of the Solomon Islands close to PNG. adults and nine children. This is a feature of damage of quakes/tsunamis. The Dominican The damage there that night was severe, most islands: the most vulnerable, children, Sisters’ rural training centre, St Anne’s at compounded by tsunamis. form a large proportion of those who died. Nila, the only such educational facility in the The places worst affected in the NW are the The Bishop told a touching story. One of NW, has been destroyed. The parish house, Shortland Islands (including Fauro and Mono his friends and parishioners, Mrs Tokaraoi a few yards away, is falling down, but being Is), North West Choiseul, and the island of Columba Temmwea, quickly came and used by the young Filipino parish priest, Wagina, on the southern tip of Choiseul. Its gathered up as many of the children in Jerome Pelagio and a local deacon. Further north coast suffered earthquake damage but Nusabaruku Village as she could find, when around the islands at Gaomai, a large, was sheltered from the tsunamis, and so was the first earthquake and its associated tidal recently opened church is completely useless. saved some damage and loss of life. In Moli wave, five minutes after, hit the village. Then Tsunamis caused flooding and mud which and Sasamunga, on Choiseul’s south coast, in a panic, she realized that she had left her remain on much low-lying ground. the tsunamis struck hard. People have faced eight-year-old grandchild in their home built Human nature is as human nature always total loss of their home, and are still waiting out over the sea, and went back to rescue her. will be: some people are receiving more than up in the bush. No aid has come yet because Both she and the child were swept out to sea their share of help than others, e.g., some they are far away from Gizo, the transport and drowned by the second major tsunami people are using tarpaulins as wind breaks hub for the West Solomons. In Gizo itself, that struck a short time later. They were as well as temporary shelters, while others people are just beginning to trickle back from found clasped in each other’s arms. nearby lack tarpaulins to make a temporary the bush to their wrecked homes. Continuing One clear result of the disaster is the home. One local man, Cletus Peters, who uses fear stopped them. distressing effect of logging, where companies his camera in his work as the director of a Around Gizo Island, it was those villages have come and stripped land near the sea of United Nations non-government institute for facing direct south that took the full brunt their natural forests. The people do not now fishing and pearl research, had all his camera of the tsunamis’ sweep: Malakerava at the have the timber they would otherwise use to equipment stolen from beside him while he southern edge of Gizo township (including rebuild their homes, and are forced to rely helped in the distribution of aid. Fortunately the prison and the hospital), Titiana (a on very unsatisfactory makeshift structures. Continued page 2 Page 1 The Tablet 22 April 2007 Disaster in Solomons Continued people are looking to help the elderly. Many are afraid that the elderly who are not easily able to move and ask for what they need, will miss out on help. They, with the children, are the poorest of the poor. Bishop Bernard talks of a young woman being sent from Noro to Gizo, a boat ride of some two hours, to have her arm X-rayed before being set in plaster. But after a week she was sent back home, without any X-ray, there being no working X-ray facilities. This is typical of some of the frustrations that people are feeling and being subjected to, because of lack of appropriate equipment or supplies. All the aid agencies have been a tremendous and immediate help. Bishop Bernard had found that Caritas Australia and its associated agencies, Catholic Relief Services (USA) and Caritas NZ had helped him especially. Adam Elliott, the Caritas Australia man based in Honiara, had organized tarpaulins and water containers immediately to be distributed to all who needed it in Gizo. Now the agencies are facing the difficulties of getting aid to outer islands, and hiring boats for that purpose. However, Bishop Bernard was wild that one aid agency had taken this opportunity to place free condom vending machines in the destroyed Gizo market place, something never before done. He felt that this was both untimely and unnecessary, and had requested that they be removed. The whole of the population of Taro Bay, the capital of Choiseul Province on a small island at the north tip of Choiseul Is, had been evacuated to higher ground on the mainland. The town itself had been swamped in a thick layer of mud. The hospital, recently renovated by RAMSI and other overseas donors, is unusable. It is the only major health facility for the people of Choiseul province, replicating exactly what happened Caritas seeking financial support in Gizo for the Western Province. Bishop Bernard asked me to thank the to assist those affected by people who had contributed money and supplies. He was aware of many gifts and tsunami in Solomon Islands overwhelmed by people’s generosity. He knows that money will never be able to put Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, the Catholic Catholic, will consider making a donation back what has been lost, but that the people agency for justice, peace and development, to assist with the immediate needs of the will try. They are naturally resilient and is seeking financial donations to assist those people as well as to help rebuild their lives.” resourceful, and full of good humour. affected by the large earthquake and tsunami Requests are going out to Catholic parishes in Western Province of the Solomon Islands. this Easter and to the media for support. Director of Caritas, Michael Smith reported: Donations will be used to fund relief and Instruction “The scale of the destruction of this disaster rehabilitation work and assistance is provided is growing by the day. It is estimated that on to people based on need regardless of their Evenings for Non- the Island of Gizo, over 900 houses have been religious affiliation. destroyed, health facilities severely damaged Donations can be made in the following ways: Catholics(RCIA) and 5,000 people affected. We are working * Call 0900 4 11 11 for an automatic $20 with our Caritas partners, including Caritas donation charge to your phone bill At the beginning of May a series of Australia and other Church agencies in the * Phone: 0800 22 10 22 to make credit instruction evenings for non-Catholics Solomon Islands to respond to the needs of card donations or interested in finding out more about those affected.” the Catholic faith will commence at Various NGO’s are involved in relief work, * Post donations to: Caritas Aotearoa Kaikorai. For further information please with different NGO’s and governments New Zealand, PO Box 12-193, phone Kath Kenrick 476 6522 or Daphne taking on different roles.