[AS380 Mark Richards]

AirSource assists Solomon Islands government following flash flooding in Honiara

The Solomon Islands Government says at least 16 people have died in flash flooding that has left thousands homeless in the capital, Honiara.

Government spokesman George Hemming has told the ABC search and rescue efforts are ongoing, but are hampered by heavy rain and the huge waves that are battering the coastline.

Mr Hemming says 16 bodies were recovered on Friday morning and an unconfirmed number of people are still missing.

Oxfam Solomon Islands country director Katie Greenwood says the floods are causing unprecedented damage.

Ms Greenwood says there has been a significant loss of houses along Mataniko River, widespread infrastructure damage and reports of landslides and flooding on the western and eastern plains of Guadalcanal.

She says Honiara residents are sheltering in schools and at the international airport, but relief agencies and the government will have to find better longer-term solutions.

Ms Greenwood says the flash floods are one of the worst disasters ever to hit Solomon Islands.

AirSource have been called on to assist the RAAF in moving troops and equipment from the Air Force Base in Townsville, Queensland, Australia to Honiara in the C130 Hercules, Boeing C-17 Globemaster.

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Flights available to book and fly for the next month only in the Humanitarian Flights category in the Bid Division.

[AS37 Norm Edwards]

Nice quick response Mark... thanks for setting these up

[AS380 Mark Richards]

Thanks Norm, I heard of this devastation and this afternoon and knew AirSource had to assist.


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[ROGERP]

Hi Mark
Thanks for this set of flights.
It is a very sad situation but it makes me feel happy that in some way
we have tried to help these unfortunate people.
Best regards as always
Roger

[AS380 Mark Richards]

Thanks Roger. The New Zealand government is also sending some Hercs up so will create those flights as well from RNZAF Whenuapai (NZWP) so watch out for them too.

26 people confirmed dead now and many many more homeless or completely lost their crops and the Solomon's are completely reliant on subsistence living.


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[AS380 Mark Richards]

Thanks Roger. The New Zealand government is also sending some Hercs up so will create those flights as well from RNZAF Whenuapai (NZWP) so watch out for them too.

These flights have now also been added, visit the the Humanitarian Flights category in the Bid Division to bid for these new sectors.

Mark