A much-needed shipment of emergency supplies for those affected by last month's earthquake on the Weathercoast of Guadalcanal in Solomon Islands leaves this evening.
About 9,000 people have been affected by the July earthquake, which damaged homes, crops, and water supplies.
The Provincial Disaster Coordinator, Herrick Savusi, says delays by the supplier of 50 tonnes of rice kept pushing back the departure date.
It will be the first shipment by the Provincial Disaster team since the earthquake.
"I was really disappointed. We should have given relief earlier, but this is beyond our control so we have to wait. We assure them [affected residents] that relief is coming. We cannot do much about this so we ask them to be patient and wait until help comes."
Herrick Savusi says the supplies will be shipped tonight.
