11 Apr 2007

Solomon Islands government considering possible resettlement of tsunami victims

9:59 am on 11 April 2007

The Solomon Islands Government is looking at resettling people living on low lying atolls and coastlines following the devastating effect of the earthquake and tsunami that strike Choiseul and Western Province.last week.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says the Government is directing a comprehensive review of all aspects of its preparedness in times of natural disasters, including taking preventative actions like the need to resettle inhabitants on low lying atolls and coastlines.

He says Cabinet is satisfied that no amount of early warnings would have avoided what had happened because of the speed and intensity of the tsunami, but that does not mean that there is nothing the nation can do to improve its preparedness.