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Solomon Islands

Bad weather delays Solomons quake relief

Disaster officials in Solomon Islands say heavy rain has delayed aid efforts for villages affect by the earthquake and tsunami which hit nearly a month ago.

A village wiped out by devastating tsunami in Solomon Islands (Credit: ABC licensed) Disaster officials in Solomon Islands say heavy rain has delayed aid efforts for villages affect by the earthquake and tsunami which hit nearly a month ago.

A magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck off the Santa Cruz islands on February 6, creating a metre high-tsunami which killed 10 people and wiped out wiped out villages and homes around the regional capital Lata..

The Premier of Temotu Province Father Brown Beu has told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat while the situation has improved for those affected by the earthquake and tsunami, many are still living in temporary accomodation.

"The people are still living in tarpaulins and tents at this present time," he said.

"I have asked the people 'please take some initiative yourselves, all of us'."

Heavy rain has been falling across Solomon Islands for the past week, which has meant a lot of relief efforts have been put on hold.

Sipuru Rove from the National Disaster Management Council says the heavy rain meant a delay in providing relief with many villages missing out.

"There was no distribution conducted last week - only very minor and very small distribution to the places where we were able to reach by vehicle," he said.

"We were not able to reach the northern coast due to the weather...[and] the plane has not arrived since last week.

"Most of the people who were to come and assist us from Honiara are still stuck in Honiara, and those of us here who were going back are still stranded as well."

Food supplies have been identified as a priority with many village gardens destroyed in the disaster.

Father Beu says the quake has also had a devastating affect on village food gardens.

"I've never experienced an earthquake like this - instead of moving sideways, it shook up and down," he said.

"So the local root crops were sticking out on the mountains...and when the rain came it destroyed the root crops."

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