CANBERRA, Aug 14, 2007 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- Solomon Islands' auditor-general will investigate how the funds for tsunami relief work in the western Solomons, which is the hardest hit area by the earthquake and tsunami in April, has been used.
The move came amid claims that after more than four months only a small proportion of the relief funds has reached the victims.
Speaking in Parliament, Solomon's Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo said the audit will determine how the relief funds were spent.
"The audit report will feature whether or not we have carried out the expenditure in the right way, lawfully and that it is targeting those people affected and that it is value for money," he was quoted by Australian Broadcasting Corporation as saying Tuesday.
A total of 52 people were killed and thousands were displaced when the tsunami hit the Western and Choiseul Provinces in April.
Earlier reports said approximately 2,000 people are still living in tents in the provincial capital of the Western Province, Gizo, nearly four months after the tsunami and earthquake hit the area.