Countries: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands Source: Plan International Up to 260, 000 people across Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands are facing urgent humanitarian needs after tropical cyclone Maila tore through the region, leaving widespread displacement and damage. Plan International is responding to the disaster in close coordination with the Australian government and other humanitarian actors, through the Australian Humanitarian partnership. The storm struck on 7 April and intensified into a Category 5 tropical cyclone (the most destructive category on the scale) the following day, with winds exceeding 185 km/h. According to Plan International’s assessments, up to 100, 000 people in the Solomon Islands and 160, 000 people in Papua New Guinea have been affected, with children making up nearly half of those impacted. Cyclone Maila has caused significant damage, killed at least 23 people and injured several others. Hundreds of families have been forced to flee their homes and are now sheltering in evacuation centers, schools, churches, and host communities. Persons with disabilities, women, older persons and displaced families face increased risks of limited access to essential services, protection concerns, health challenges and livelihoods. “During the cyclone, I felt very scared and unsafe, especially when the roof of our family house was blown off. Everything was happening so fast, and I was worried about our safety. After the cyclone I still feel afraid and not completely safe. I am traumatized and worried that it might happen again while we were still trying to recover. Right now, what I really need is support to repair our shelter, access to food and clean water, and a safe and private place for my family, especially for women. I am happy that Plan is the first organization to come and speak to us – this interview has helped me pour out my inner feelings and share what we are going through” Agnes, 21 years old female, Nusabaruku, Solomon Islands. Plan International, which has an established presence in several of the hardest-hit areas, has been responding through its local teams and partners since 8 April 2026. At this stage, we are distributing water and emergency food such as rice and biscuits to affected communities in Papua New Guinea’s Bougainville Province and the Solomon Islands’s Western Province. We are also distributing Non-Food Items (NFI) such as hygiene kits such as menstrual pads, washing powder and soap for women and girls, and providing shelter assistance. We are coordinating with the government in both countries to identify the most urgent needs and are focusing our response on children, especially girls. Our rapid needs assessments highlight the urgent need to provide affected communities with food and safe drinking water, essential shelter and non-food items, as well as hygiene and menstrual health supplies, hygiene promotion, and temporary sanitation facilities. Moving forward, we will focus on supporting children’s emotional wellbeing through safe spaces where they can play and recover, strengthening child protection and preventing gender-based violence in affected communities, and we will ensure that children can continue their learning by facilitating temporary classrooms with essential school materials. We are committed to restoring essential services, supporting early recovery in affected communities, and ensuring that our response is inclusive and considers the different needs of girls and women. “The people in the Western Province are used to strong winds and small cyclones, but this one took everyone by surprise, as they have never experienced anything like this before. One moment they were just living their everyday lives, and the next moment they are dealing with something completely scary and terrifying. The Western province, which is so badly hit, is also the major tourist hub of the country. The environment that communities depend on for their income and source of water and livelihoods needs time to heal and recover. We know also that girls, children and young people are also affected too, with many struggling to access clean water and being out of school. It’s a difficult time for everyone. ” Duta Bero, Country Programmes Manager, Plan International Solomon Islands Humanitarian responders in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands are facing major challenges reaching affected communities. Damaged roads and ports, disrupted sea and land transport, and limited communication with remote island areas are making it difficult to deliver assistance quickly. At the same time, many people remain displaced and in overcrowded shelters, while gaps in information are increasing risks to people’s safety, health and wellbeing. Plan International is working closely with local authorities and partners and continues to monitor the situation. As access improves, we will scale up our response to ensure that the most vulnerable communities receive timely support. For further information or interview requests, please contact: Arif Ahmed, RegionalCommunications Manager, Plan International Asia Pacific Email: arif. ahmed@plan-international. org Sina Hasan, Communications Specialist, Plan International Asia Pacific Email: Hasan. Sina@plan-international. org
PNG: Plan International joins hands with Australian Government and partners for Cyclone Maila emergency response
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