[pima.nius] NZ gives $50,000 to Solomons

NZ gives $50,000 to Solomons

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/pacific-islands/news/article.cfm?l_id=10&objectid=10619053

9:27 AM Friday Jan 8, 2010

The Government is giving $50,000 to help relief efforts in the Solomon Islands after this week's earthquakes and tsunami.

The money would be distributed to various agencies working there and would include an immediate $10,000 to the Solomons' National Disaster Management Organisation, said Foreign Minister Murray McCully.

"We are also likely to make a significant contribution to Solomon Islands Red Cross and other similar humanitarian organisations to help them replenish stocks of essential items for around 1500 people who have been displaced by the tsunami."

New Zealand was ready to provide further help if needed, he said.

The islands were hit by a series of quakes on Monday, the largest of which was magnitude 7.2. It triggered landslides and a three-metre tsunami which ploughed into the coastline.

No-one was injured but more than 1000 people were left homeless on the island of Rendova.

An aftershock measuring 6.9 hit the region on Tuesday night.

- NZPA