An emergency drought relief mission began in Rennell and Bellona Province on 18 October 2026 and is due to run to 25 October 2026, the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) said. The office, part of the Ministry of Environment Climate Change Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM), said the aim is to help communities hit by drought and get safe drinking water and services flowing again.

The province has been under prolonged meteorological drought, with severe shortages on Bellona Island, according to the NDMO. Services have suffered, it said, and some schools closed for a time because there was not enough water.

Australia is taking part through the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the NDMO said, along with Respond Global, provincial authorities and constituency representatives.

Respond Global's vessel MV Helpr-1 is the main platform at sea for water and logistics. The NDMO said it can desalinate approximately 14,000 litres a day and hold 26,000 litres, and will be used to produce, carry and hand out water.

The work on Bellona Island puts schools, health facilities and vulnerable communities first, the NDMO said. It covers emergency drinking-water distribution, extra water-storage tanks, fixing water systems already in place, and medical outreach to back up provincial health services.

On Rennell Island, a technical team will sample and test chosen water sources, among them cave water. The NDMO said the results will show which sources are fit to use and guide later water security and drought-response work, and that the team will also look at infrastructure, operating needs and what communities still lack.

Operations are being coordinated by the NDMO with participating agencies and local authorities. The office said the mission is scheduled to conclude on 25 November 2026, with findings and recommendations to inform decisions on further assistance.

Source: Based on a statement on the emergency drought relief and water security mission to Rennell and Bellona Province, published by the Solomon Islands Government portal on 20 October 2026. https://solomons.gov.sb/solomon-islands-government-deploys-emergency-drought-relief-and-water-security-mission-to-rennell-and-bellona-province/