School Rehabilitation for Tsunami Stricken Provinces

A delegation is back from the Western Province on a mission to deliver money for the rehabilitation of schools in Western and Choiseul provinces.

The team who arrived back in Honiara Sunday was a combination of representatives from the UNICEF, European Union and Solomon Islands Government.

Senior UNICEF officer and a member of the delegation, Steven Maitani said the trip followed a Cooperation Agreement signed early last week between the UNICEF, EU and the Solomons government.

He said that the agreement paves the way for cooperation to contribute more than 24 million towards school rehabilitation for the two provinces.

"The money will cater for rehabilitation of 140 schools destroyed during the tsunami," Mr. Maitani told Solomon Times.

Rehabilitation will also go towards school staff houses.

The delegation took the time to make short visits through affected areas including Titiana, an area badly devastated during the April 2006 disaster.

Another visit to the two provinces will take place in June to address rehabilitation programs in the health department.

"Our next delegation will be going next month to have talks with provincial coordinators regarding health of the tsunami victims," said Mr. Maitani.