Tropical Cyclone Maila - Pacific Humanitarian Team: Situation Report No.1 (17 April 2026)

This report is produced by OCHA Office of the Pacific Islands in collaboration with humanitarian partners under the Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT). It covers the period from 13 to 17 April 2026.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tropical Cyclone Maila peaked as a Category 4–5 system, affecting approximately 120,000 people across Solomon Islands.
• State of Disaster declared for Western and Choiseul Provinces.
• As of 13 April, one fatality in Wagina and seven people remain missing in Marovo.
• Fifty-nine schools were damaged, with six severely impacted, affecting approximately 2,000 pupils in Western and Choiseul Provinces.
• Over 31,000 people are in need of emergency shelter.
• Nine health clinics reported damaged and non-functional; a suspected diarrhoeal outbreak has been reported in Babanga and Simbo Islands.

SITUATION OVERVIEW
Between 6 and 13 April, Tropical Cyclone Maila rapidly intensified in the Solomon Sea, reaching Category 4–5 intensity and generating gale-force winds, heavy rainfall, rough seas, coastal flooding, and landslide risks across Solomon Islands, resulting in significant humanitarian impacts. The most severe impacts have been reported in Western Province, with significant damage also recorded in Choiseul and Isabel Provinces.

While weather conditions are stabilizing, allowing for the gradual restoration of services, initial reports indicate extensive damage to homes, community infrastructure, schools, health facilities, and water systems. A suspected diarrhoeal outbreak has been reported in Babanga and Simbo, and an unconfirmed number of people remain displaced. On 10 April, the Government of Solomon Islands declared a State of Disaster for Western and Choiseul Provinces, with an estimated combined population of 125,000 people, including 56,000 children and 28,700 women (2019 census).

National and provincial response efforts are currently focused on deploying Initial Damage Assessment (IDA) teams and
distributing life-saving supplies. Response operations remain constrained by logistical challenges and the continued use
of schools as evacuation centres.The Government allocated SBD 10 million to address immediate needs, while Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT) partners are supporting sectoral response efforts in line with priorities identified by national sector committees and lead line ministries.