Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele visits cyclone-hit Western and Choiseul, pledging support and recovery assistance.
Honiara, Solomon Islands Tuesday 21 April 2026 – Prime Minister, Jeremiah Manele, has concluded his solidarity visit to Western and Choiseul Provinces, following engagements with provincial leaders and communities affected by Tropical Cyclone Maila.
The Prime Minister returned to Honiara after the visit, which commenced on Saturday, 18 April 2026, and included visits to several of the worst-affected “red zone” communities across the two provinces.
Prime Minister Manele stated that while he was only able to visit a limited number of communities due to time and logistical constraints, the visit was important in demonstrating the National Government’s support and witnessing firsthand the impact of the disaster.
“I was only able to visit a few communities given the time and logistical challenges, but I have seen enough to understand the scale of the impact and the challenges our people are facing,” he said.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that the current phase of support is focused on immediate response efforts led by the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), including the delivery of relief supplies to affected communities.
He added that the next phase of support will be guided by comprehensive damage assessments currently being undertaken, which will inform further assistance to communities.
“Right now, the focus is on response through the distribution of relief supplies. Once thorough assessments are completed, the next phase of support will be rolled out to reach all affected communities,” the Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Manele expressed sincere appreciation to donor partners and non-governmental organisations for their timely support in assisting Solomon Islanders affected by Tropical Cyclone Maila.
He also acknowledged the efforts of the National Disaster Council (NDC) in supporting the visit and enabling access to some of the hardest-hit areas.
“I thank our donor partners and NGOs for their continued support, and I also acknowledge the NDC for facilitating this visit, allowing us to reach some of the communities most affected by this disaster,” he said.
Tropical Cyclone Maila, a Category 5 system and one of the strongest cyclones ever to impact Solomon Islands, caused widespread damage across Western and Choiseul Provinces.
Despite the severity of the cyclone, the Prime Minister noted with relief that no lives were lost.
“We are fortunate that no lives were lost during Tropical Cyclone Maila. This is something we are truly grateful for,” he said.
Prime Minister Manele encouraged communities to continue supporting one another during the recovery period and to remain resilient in the face of ongoing challenges.
“I encourage our people to continue to look after each other and support one another during these trying times. Our strength as Solomon Islanders lies in our unity and resilience,” he added.
The Prime Minister confirmed that he has taken note of the concerns raised by communities visited and assured that these will be communicated to relevant authorities for consideration.
He also encouraged communities to continue engaging with their community committees to raise any further concerns regarding support from the Government through the NDMO.
Prime Minister Manele reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to supporting affected communities as response efforts continue and recovery planning progresses.
SOURCE: OPMC PRESS RELEASE
