Solomon Islands tsunami: on the links between disasters and development

Aid workers have warned of a humanitarian crisis in Solomon Islands following yesterday's earthquake and tsunami (Reuters). As is the case with many disasters, this one is a product of the interaction of a natural hazard with existing sources of vulnerability, including:

• existing poor infrastructure


• damage to already limited water supplies


• a tropical climate in which infection can set in very quickly


• limited local supplies of antibiotics and anti-malarials


• damage to housing in an area in which malaria is prevalent


• inundation of gardens in a country where most people depend on subsistence agriculture (even in urban areas)


• damage to already limited stores of dry food


• the loss of boats in poor communities which are heavily reliant on fishing

For a list of Australian agencies working in Solomon Islands, click here.

Impact of price rises on rural families

Fascinating piece from Solomon Star News. Although many people in urban areas have limited access to a cash income, people in rural areas have even more limited access, and their limited ability to participate in the cash economy is compounded by the expense of travelling to Honiara, or having goods shipped to rural areas. In other words, they are more vulnerable to price rises than are those in Honiara.

Zaka identifies something that Wei and I have not to date - the damage caused to Chinese business could perhaps open up opportunities for Solomon Islanders that were not previously there. It will be interested to watch Solomon Islands' economy in the coming months and years to see what the long-term impacts of the rioting are (if any).

Price crisis affects rural families

Submitted by Arthur Wate on 25 April, 2006 - 3:44pm. Headlines

THE price crisis expects to severely affect rural-based subsistence farmers and fishermen, a shop-owner said.

“Our struggling families back in rural areas would be the worst affected consumers.

“The prices of goods, which have been unnecessarily increased, would be doubled or tripled the current rates,” said the shop-owner Samuel Zaka.

He called on shop-owners to have pity on the rural people who are struggling to make ends meet.

As citizens of this country, he said, everyone should have concern for the people.

“We should not allow the unfortunate situation to sever our mutual relationship that bonds us together.

“Be fair and honest with our prices,” he told Solomon Star yesterday.

Zaka said the increase of prices of some consumable goods such as rice, cigarette and tobacco and canned food is unwarranted because the supply is still there.

Although demand is high, he said, the main supply has not been affected.

The major retail and wholesalers may be destroyed but there is still a channel to get supplies, he said.

The shop-owner said the problem currently experience in the capital can be viewed as a test of ‘our credibility as business people.”

Seeing the Chinese friends who major suppliers have been cut off through the destruction of their businesses, it is time the local people take up the opportunity, he said.

“We should now face the challenge of starting a business and help our own people.

“The problem should be our stepping stone to self-reliance.

“We should not take advantage of it to punish fellow citizens,” he said.

Impact of Solomon Islands riots on food availability

The Australian and the Solomon Star both report that the riots have sparked price rises for food and tobacco in Honiara.

The price of rice, a staple diet for Solomon Islanders, has jumped by up to 20 per cent at some retailers, despite Solrice (the local rice suppliers) saying that the gains are unnecessary because the unrest has not affected production or supply.

The locally manufactured Solomon Blue Taiyo has risen from between $4.50-5 per tin to $6-7 per tin, while the cost of cigarettes has risen by about 30 per cent at some outlets.

Last week's riots affected around 80 per cent of Chinatown, along with other Chinese shops, restaurants and the large Pacific Casino Hotel. The Chinese own the vast majority of shops in Honiara, and as a result the damage suffered by these businesses will have impacts on both employment as well as the price and availability of goods. The small size and limited diversity of Solomon Islands' economic base means that it vulnerable to, and has little ability to absorb, the negative impacts on of any one part of the economy.

As an interesting aside, I understand that tobacco wasn't widely used until after RAMSIs arrival. Now cigarettes are a status symbol, and it's not uncommon to see young Solomon Islander men walking down the street with a cigarette tucked behind their ear, or hanging out of the corner of their mouth, unlit.