Malaita Province selected for new humanitarian warehouse, boosting disaster readiness under Pacific program
A regional initiative under the Pacific Humanitarian Warehousing Program, implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC) with the government as the main collaborator, has confirmed Malaita Province as the location for a new humanitarian warehouse.
The humanitarian warehouse aims to strengthen disaster preparedness across the Pacific region, including the Solomon Islands.
Lisa Cleary, the Program Director for Infrastructure Specialist for the Pacific Humanitarian Warehousing Project, said that there have already been a number of meetings and discussions regarding the humanitarian warehouse in Malaita Province, which is currently in its concept and design stage.
“We have had some engagements and talks with the Malaita Provincial Government to hear from them about the needs of the people there, to have the warehouse and see how it will be designed to meet the needs of the NDMO in the Solomon Islands,” she said.
The facility will serve as a vital hub for storing and distributing essential relief supplies during emergencies. It represents a major step toward improving coordination, response capacity, and resilience in the face of natural disasters across the Pacific.
The program runs for 12 to 18 months and is expected to complete one infrastructure project per country, as all 15 countries in the region seek to establish new humanitarian warehouse facilities.
“One thing we are very conscious of is sustainability, we don’t want to construct an infrastructure project or warehouse that our partner country does not have the resources or skills to manage. Because that would be quite irresponsible, and it would place a burden on a country that may not be able to manage or afford it,” she said.
The program focuses on prepositioning essential supplies to ensure that, within 48 hours of a disaster, communities in need can receive timely assistance. The implementation phase of the program is currently progressing, with plans to establish humanitarian warehouses stocked with emergency relief supplies to enhance regional readiness.
Speaking to the media, Director of the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), Jonathan Matamaru Tafiariki, confirmed that Malaita Province will host the new humanitarian warehouse.
“Solomon Islands is part of this initiative to develop and build the humanitarian warehouse, and Malaita Province is confirmed to host the facility,” Mr. Matamaru said.
He further noted that another national humanitarian warehouse will also be established in Honiara with support from bilateral partners.
“There will also be another national humanitarian warehouse situated in Honiara,” he added.
The Pacific Humanitarian Warehousing Program is completing the support and ongoing work already happening on the ground, ensuring that both national and provincial warehouses fulfill their intended purpose.
Lisa Cleary clarified the difference between the partnerships, saying,
“There is also work currently underway with the help of the Australian Defence Cooperation Program in Honiara, and we complement that by building the one in Auki, Malaita. We want to complement other projects, other existing infrastructure or other proposed infrastructure,” she explained.
The Solomon Islands remains vulnerable to a wide range of natural hazards such as cyclones, tsunamis, and disease outbreaks. Mr. Matamaru emphasized that the establishment of humanitarian warehouses will enhance national preparedness and response capacity.
“The readiness with precautionary stock will be a relief, and with the aim that within 48 hours we can respond to any emergency phase,” he said.
Photo Credit: Solomon Islands Disaster Management Office/George Baragam
This week, during the 2nd Pacific Disaster Risk Reduction Ministerial Meeting in Koror, Palau, discussions continued to focus on the importance of the humanitarian warehouse initiative. Ministers from across the region reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that every Pacific country benefits from the program.
As of late 2024 to early 2025, Kiribati has become the first, and so far only, country to complete and commission its new humanitarian warehouse under the Pacific Humanitarian Warehousing Program.
The Pacific Humanitarian Warehousing Program is a Pacific-led initiative primarily funded and supported by the governments of Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom, with anticipated support from France and the United States.
The program is implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC), which manages the Programme Management Office and works with an Infrastructure Specialist Unit.
The initiative will support systems across 14 Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste. For the Solomon Islands, the timeframe is expected to run until June 2027, when the program will be in its first phase of development, paving the way for the humanitarian warehouse in Auki, Malaita Province.
According to the development plan, the humanitarian warehouse in Malaita Province will form part of this multi-million-dollar regional initiative.
