Honiaras Chinatown hit by looting and vandalism Parts of the Solomon Islands capital are in lockdown after looting and vandalism of Honiaras Chinatown area. Rioting broke out in Chinatown on Friday, causing extensive damage in particular to a shopping centre. Our correspondent in Honiara, Dorothy Wickham, says the building was set alight after occupants of a now-closed evacuation centre demanded payments related to last months flooding disaster from the government. The Solomon Islands capital was devastated by last months flooding disaster which killed 22 people, destroyed homes and properties, and severely disrupted the lives of more than 50,000 people. Ground reports say some local people have become frustrated at slow delivery of relief assistance following the disaster. Pressure on land and housing due to the displacement of thousands of people in heavily populated parts of Guadalcanal are also fuelling tensions. Dorothy Wickham says that a rumour saying that the government would pay flood victims before they left the centres appears to have sparked the latest unrest. She says tensions remain high in Honiara. Meanwhile, World Vision says it has suspended its operations in the town, while Australia has upgraded its travel advisory urging Australians to exercise a high degree of caution in the city. radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/244645/honiaras-chinatown-hit-by-looting-and-vandalism Photo by JK
Posted on: Sat, 17 May 2014 05:42:02 +0000
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