BY RUTH LILOQULA – CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO) OF TRANSPARENCY SOLOMON ISLANDS
Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) joins Western Province Premier Hon. Billy Veo in demanding answers: Where are the millions pledged for Cyclone Maila recovery?
Five months after the cyclone, families in Western and Choiseul Provinces remain without homes, food gardens, or livelihoods. Promises have been made, funds announced — yet victims still wait. This chronic failure of transparency and accountability in disaster recovery cannot continue.
TSI insists: disaster funds belong to the people, and must go straight to the people.
There are Unanswered Questions that vexes victims and people alike. Despite announcements of SBD10 million in emergency relief, SBD75 million in recovery allocations, and millions more from partners including the World Bank, ADB, PCRIC, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the US, China, and UN agencies, communities remain in hardship.
The people deserve clarity:
- What funds have been received?
- What has been spent?
- What remains available?
- When will assistance reaches communities?
Transparency Solomon Islands demands Accountability Now for the victims of Cyclone Maila. Recovery cannot be delayed until 2027 and used for campaign purposes. People cannot eat promises, rebuild homes with announcements, or protect families with funds locked in bureaucracy.
TSI calls on the Executive Government, the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), and all responsible authorities to:
- Provide public updates on recovery funds.
- Show how assistance is reaching communities.
- Strengthen coordination with provincial governments, churches, civil society, and partners.
We now have more than 70 Political Appointees who are paid at top level salaries, some with not qualification nor experience to deserve such are renumeration. These political appointees if they do not have anything to do then they should assist with the recovery program, provided that they know the Principles of Recovery. For any disaster relief to help people recover it must be guided by:
- Transparency
- Accountability
- Good governance
- Respect for dignity
Cyclone Maila victims have already endured destruction of homes, gardens, and livelihoods. They should not carry the added burden of waiting indefinitely for promised aid.
In June, the Government announced that approximately SBD150 million was required for full recovery, covering areas including health, education, livelihoods, agriculture, housing and other essential services.
The Government has also allocated SBD75 million for Cyclone Maila recovery and rehabilitation through to the end of 2026, separate from the initial SBD10 million emergency response allocation announced immediately after the cyclone. The SBD75 million is to be administered through the National Disaster Council and the NDMO.
In brief the significant assistance and financing announced by the government, development partners and humanitarian organizations include:
- SBD10 million from the Solomon Islands Government for immediate humanitarian relief, including food, safe drinking water, shelter and hygiene items.
- In Government 2026 Supplementary Budget, the Government allocated SBD 75 million for Cyclone Maila recovery and rehabilitation.
- US$500,000 from the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC) following Cyclone Maila.
- US$5 million from the World Bank through the Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option to support response and recovery.
- US$10 million from the Asian Development Bank, under its contingent disaster financing arrangements, to support emergency response and early recovery.
- Support from Australia AUD $1.5 million, New Zealand NZD $3.4 million, the United Kingdom, the United States and China, together with assistance from United Nations agencies, churches, civil society organizations and other humanitarian partners. The UK, for example, has provided funding through UNICEF and other humanitarian support mechanisms.
Some lamented that so far, they have received diapers including sanitary pads during the emergency phase and could not quite understand why these were seen as most important.
Transparency Solomon Islands urges all donors, funders to publish the names of implementing agencies and how information on how victims can access this assistance including how much money is given to them in the name of Cyclone Maila Recovery.
GIVE WHAT BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE — STRAIGHT TO THE PEOPLE. ACTION NOW, NOT PROLONGED PROMISES.
