Standing together after Cyclone Maila

In the days following Tropical Cyclone Maila, Solomon Islands has once again demonstrated
determination, resilience, and a strong commitment to helping those communities most affected. I witnessed first-hand the strength of your community’s deep spirit this week, while participating in the Prime Minister’s solidarity visit to Simbo, Ghaomai, Nila, Taro and Sasamugga. It was a visit full of feeling and emotion within the villages we visited – grief mingled with stoic resolve, sadness but with a determination to rebuild.

Australia’s role in this response has been to stand alongside the Solomon Islands Government and help turn plans into action—quickly and at scale so that assistance reached communities when they needed it most.

Since Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele wrote to Prime Minister Albanese on 10 April requesting support, Australia has worked closely with the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), the National Disaster Council (NDC) and the National Disaster Operations Committee to deliver targeted humanitarian assistance, guided by Solomon Islands’ priorities.

Beginning on 12 April, two Australian Defence Force C17 aircraft flew from Australia’s Humanitarian Logistics Centre in Brisbane to Honiara, delivering critical relief supplies. These flights transported shelter and hygiene kits for 576 households, 1,200 individual solar lights with mobile phone chargers, 20 community solar lights, and three large tents to support the storage and coordination of relief items.

As directed by NDMO tasking, an Australian Defence Force C27J Spartan aircraft conducted seven flights over four days to distribute these supplies to Taro and Munda. These flights also transported NDMO officials and Solomon Islands Medical Assistance Team (SOLMAT) clinicians to support frontline services. The flights also enabled the Honourable Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology, Trevor Manemahaga, to visit Western Province to oversee response efforts firsthand.

Australia has also supported maritime logistics, funding three barge voyages to ensure vital supplies reached island communities. A large barge carrying emergency food, relief items and fuel for helicopters and RSIPF boats arrived in Gizo last week. A second barge has been operating this week in Choiseul province, carrying Australian nonfood items, NGO supplies and three National Emergency Response Team members. A third smaller barge is currently being used to distribute supplies to impacted communities in Western Province.

Behind the scenes, Australian humanitarian specialists have been deployed to Munda to support the establishment of a provincial supply coordination centre, alongside an Australia Assists deployee working directly with NDMO officials.

We understand that disaster recovery takes time, which is why our support will continue beyond the immediate response phase. Australia has allocated SBD5.7 million through Australian Humanitarian Partners –Save the Children, Plan International,World Vision and CAN DO – to deliver emergency supplies, restore food production and livelihoods, and rehabilitate rainwater catchments.

We have also released funding to United Nations Population Fund and the Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Federation to enable support for women, girls and other vulnerable groups affected by the cyclone, especially pregnant women and women with new babies.

I was particularly heartened to see the prominent role played in the cyclone response from previous Australian investments. The RSIPF Guardian class patrol boat, MV Gizo, has carried rice and other urgent supplies to communities in Western Province and Choiseul. The Provincial Emergency Operations Centre in Taro – which I opened in February this year with Government Ministers – has been the coordination hub for the response in Choiseul. The advanced Parrot Drones, gifted by Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister earlier this year, were deployed for damage assessments over Choiseul. Equipment and supplies that were gifted to the National Emergency Response Team by the Australian Defence Force in 2024 were used in the response effort.

I want to pay particular tribute to Solomon Islands public servants at national and provincial levels. Many have been responding while personally affected by the cyclone, yet their commitment has never wavered. Their commitment has been inspiring.

Australia is proud to support a response that is led by Solomon Islands, for Solomon Islands. When disasters strike, the strength of our partnership is measured not in words, but in action—and in standing together when it matters most.

God bless Solomon Islands, from shore to shore.