Australia provides SDB$71 million COVID-19 funding support to Solomon Islands

Australian High Commissioner to Solomon IslandsDr. Lachlan Strahan and Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Jeremiah Manele (center)

The Australia Government has committed a SDB$71 million dollars funding support to Solomon Islands in its preparedness response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The agreement for the funding commitment was signed today by the Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Dr. Lachlan Strahan and Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Jeremiah Manele.

Dr. Strahan said, the funding support is another milestone assistance in the relationship between the two countries.
It is understood, of the $71m, $44m would go towards the health sector to boost COVID-19 preparedness and response activities and $27m towards the Government’s stimulus package.

Meanwhile, Minister Manele, acknowledging the Australian government and its people said: “The budget support provided by Australia we have witnessed today will greatly assist the Solomon Islands Government to meet some of its COVID-19 preparedness and response activities.
This will also to assist with managing the social and economic impact faced by Solomon Islands due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

He said, “Our two countries strong friendship and mutually beneficial relationship that both our two countries and peoples have enjoyed over the years. Though the support provided is specifically in response to COVID-19, I understand, Australia’s ongoing support and commitment to assist us in meeting our national development goals under its bilateral programme remain. For this, I want to register my deep appreciation to Australia for its unwavering support.”

The support will go towards the isolation and quarantine infrastructure requirements, logistics, medical equipment, personal protection equipment, laboratory equipment including COVID testing kits, water and sanitation projects, surge personal or technical assistance in Honiara and throughout the provinces.

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