The Story No One's Talking About

I've had to post a watermarked and copyrighted image from the Getty Images Library here (they wanted to charge me $220 for a single use, unwatermarked image) because nobody, not CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, MSNBC, BBC, Reuters, AP, UPI, or any other international news syndicates are bothering to place the full visual impact of this tragic event before the eyes of the world. And the result is what can only be described as a trickle of aid flowing into the Solomon Islands.

The image above illustrates the massive scale of uplift that occurred following the 8.1 earthquake that struck 345km northwest of the Solomon Islands' capital of Honiara at 0740 local time on 2 April 2007. The people in the image are standing atop what was, just hours before, a submerged and living coral platform. The quake and resultant seafloor displacement generated a tsunami, causing significant damage in numerous islands and villages. The affected area includes Gizo, Simbo, Ranogga, Shortlands, Munda, Noro, Vella la Vella, Kolombangara and parts of the southern coast of Choiseul. Aerial surveillance shows that the worst-affected areas are the southern coast of Gizo, Simbo Island and the central southern coast of Choiseul between Moli and Posarae and Sasamunga. While verified death tolls still remain relatively low (48 men, women and children dead) there are still many people reported missing.

Animation of subduction zone resulting in strain uplift

What the tsunami "spared" in human casualties was made-up for in property loss. Reports from a friend, Lisa Choquette, based in the Solomon's indicated that some of the hardest hit village areas of Gizo have been utterly obliterated. Homes and property have been completely lost. The following account comes from Mia Ramon, a friend of Lisa's who works for the World Bank who was on Kolumbangara and watched it happen:

Was in Ringe, in Western Province when the earthquake hit, thank God not at night, watched with others as the sea drained in passages around our dormant volcanic island (Kolumbangara) and went full dry in passages, then within minutes quickly refilled, boiling rivers like class 1 rapids and then overflowing high tide marks and up hills, all boats floating and most wharfs made of logs destroyed, just washed away. Lots of dead fish on the water, as they were stranded in the drys. Big huge sounds before the first waves hit and high high pressure, my housegirl in Ringe was thrown from the veranda to the garage by the suction of the wind.

Leaf houses floating by, homes on points and low coastal areas were filled to the roofs (we watched) and then drained, etc., till some just joined the sea. Stood with a widow who said "There goes my house!!" and sure enough it was going by on the other side of the rapidly moving channel.

By afternoon the coastal people had all gone bush and came to the forestry company where I was asking for tents... they basically went with clothes on their backs. Tremors have continued, a big one last night at 11 and 1 am and then a 6.1 quake today at about 10:30 am, so the islanders think another big one is coming. Many still standing houses, eg cement base, are unstable and could topple. Pilots at Munda today commented on canoes in trees in Nila (Shortlands) and Gizo area of Malekareva swept away (that is where the deaths were first reported) and Sasamunga (choiseul, quite north of us) is flattened. Some big damage is at Taro the north part of Choiseul.

Deaths are just not reported yet (more than 4 or so) but we fear there will be many, the strength of the water was so high that it is impossible people were not swept away.

While NGOs (AusAID, Oxfam, UNICEF, and Solomon Islands Red Cross) have been quick on the scene to assess and begin administering medical attention to locals in the affected areas, thus far only Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan have been proactive in monetary support and aid. The American Red Cross, at last report, had earmarked a paltry 50K of aid to the Solomon's, prompting some locals to wonder why the US is so being so stingy to a tiny, developing country that played such an important and strategic role for the US in WW II. I can speculate all night as to why, but unlike Asia's 2005 tsunami of December 26, videos and photos of the Solomon's tsunami are lacking. Sadly, out of sight, out of mind.

With so much loss, so little coverage, and so little response, I've asked my friend how I can help. Here's Lisa's recommendations:

Clothing and house hold items are desperately needed; check with your Red Cross whether they will accept those donations also for Solomon Islands relief. Mailing is very expensive.

Men basically wear shorts, tee shirts, tank tops; dress pants and shirt for church are prized. Slippers and sandals & sport shoes. Same with underwear (wish you could have seen the underwear giveaway when my container was unpacked–it was hysterical!!!)

Women 30's and older wear skirts and blouses and spaghetti tanks (love those) or dresses. Any and all underwear except the really ridiculous lingerie. Bikinis work;
Slippers, sandals, sportshoes.

Younger women are now wearing long shorts–men's or women's. Older women often wear shorts UNDER their skirts.
They do not wear long dress pants or mini skirts (tho' I've seen an occasional one–the times they are a-changing.)
Sweat shirts, jackets, and sweaters are welcome. It can get chilly, and they get colder here way easier than we do.
All kids clothes.

Towels, blankets, soap–think of all the things you'd need camping.
Clean out your closets!!
If you do want to mail stuff, send it to:

Charles Kelly
Secretary General
Solomon Islands Red Cross Society
PO Box 187, New China Town, Lombi Cress Street
Honiara, Solomon Islands

Be sure to CLEARLY mark package for disaster relief.

I'm packing my box right after logging off tonight. I encourage you to help too.