Storm, displacement and hidden wartime explosives deepen emergency in Solomon Islands

The Category 4 storm brought destructive winds, flooding and heavy rainfall to vulnerable coastal and island communities after intensifying in the Solomon Sea in the South Pacific.

“Displacement remains widespread, with many families sheltering in evacuation centres, schools, churches and host communities,” OCHA said in a humanitarian bulletin on Sunday.

Agencies warn that women, children and persons with disabilities face growing protection risks due to overcrowding and disrupted community support systems.

WWII bombs

Flooding and erosion in the archipelago’s Western Province have also exposed unexploded ordnance (UXO), creating additional dangers for affected communities and responders.

The unexploded ordnance was left over from the battles which took place in the Solomon Islands during the Second World War.

The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator has allocated $2.5 million from the Organization’s central emergency response fund to support urgent lifesaving assistance.

Resources strained

Health services have also been strained. An estimated 3,600 pregnant women have been affected, while 21 health facilities sustained damage.

Many women face difficulties reaching clinics because of damaged infrastructure and transportation disruptions.

Food insecurity is worsening as crops and fishing livelihoods are destroyed, with communities reporting reduced meals and growing reliance on humanitarian aid.

Education has also been disrupted, with 84 schools across Western, Choiseul and Guadalcanal Provinces damaged, affecting nearly 15,800 students.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and partners are establishing temporary learning spaces and distributing emergency school supplies.

Broader weather pattern

The storm is part of a broader wave of extreme weather across the Pacific.

In the Federated States of Micronesia, an archipelago in the Western Pacific, Typhoon Sinlaku prompted a state of emergency earlier in April after damaging homes, infrastructure and water systems.

“This is yet another reminder that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and unpredictable,” said Iori Kato, the Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific for the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM).

“Without sustained investment in preparedness and early warning systems, the region risks facing devastating human and economic costs. This is a critical window for action,” he added.

Listen to the update from IOM’s Solomon Kantha, Chief of Mission/Sub-regional Coordinator for the South Pacific: