Subject: 'austraLasia' # 388
SALESIANS IN SOLOMONS UNDER PRESSURE.
(to put it mildly!)
Ambrose Pereira
HONIARA: 26th July -- Honiara residents have been deprived of water for the past week due to a blow up at the SIWA pumping station in the Kongulae water source area. Residents are assured that SIWA will do its best to distribute water from other sources to the affected areas. This would be possible, as a large number of people have left the city in the past few weeks. Repair works could take a few months.
Malaita has had an influx of people. This has caused a tilt in balance to – sanitation, water supply, medical supplies, education, travel and transport, etc. Health problems are on the increase. Important Medical equipment has not been functioning compounding the problem. In Honiara, several wards have been closed down. A Voluntary Trauma Counseling Unit has been set up to counsel nurses and other medical staff affected by the brutal killings. The Management of Solomon Star have announced that it will publish its paper on three days of the week only – as newsprint, chemicals and other printing supplies are difficult to obtain. St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Tenaru, a catholic institute managed by the Marist Teaching Brothers has closed for the year. Tenaru has been the scene of violent activity between the two warring parties. It is still to be seen whether SICHE, the only tertiary institute in the country will continue classes for the rest of the scholastic year.
Over 500 people have now made the premises of Christ the King Parish, Tetere – their home. This parish is, of course, the Salesian parish now in the care of the Salesians for some six years. The people just have a roof above their heads and strive to manage with roots and fruits that they can find. The center is unable to cater to the basic needs of the people.
Water is scarce and so are medical supplies.
The business community has got together to finance a security force as rime has been on the increase and the police force is unable to contain it.
