The National Women's League (NWL) released extra funding worth SBD$36,500 to assist tsunami victims in the Western and Choiseul provinces.
The Taiwan Ambassador to Solomon Islands, George Chan, presented the financial assistance to the Chairwoman of the 'First Lady Charity Fund', Lady Alice Waena at the Government House on Monday.Former Madam Emmy Sogavare led a delegation of women, all wives of former Ministers in the previous government, to visit Taiwan November last year and pledged for the assistance.
The latest financial assistance is to meet shipment and other transportation costs to deliver three containers of clothing, previously donated by a group of Taiwanese business houses through the Solomon Islands government.
The three containers failed to reach the intended recipients last year due to lack of funds to meet transportation expenses.
The situation has prompted Ambassador George Chan to recommend the extra NWL funding be used for transportation costs to get the clothes to the affected people.
Ambassador Chan said the government and people of Taiwan sympathized with the disaster victims and believed that the fund has the capability to take the responsibility to help those who are in need of clothing.
"Taiwan will keep on helping the disadvantaged people and offer more assistance to the needy communities in Solomon Islands whenever we can," Mr. Chan said.
Last year's April tsunami had killed at least 52 people, leaving thousands homeless in the two provinces.
"The members of my charity would undertake to ensure that those people affected would be helped out," Lady Waena said.
The First Lady Charity Fund headed by Lady Waena has been mandated to coordinate the delivery of the clothes to the victims.