| 25th March 2022 | Gilbert Koraubati | Tarawa | .
Tsunamis Reach the Shores of Banaba
As of this reporting at 8:30 AM, the tsunamis resulting from the eruption of Tinakula 2 hours ago have officially reached the shores of our nation. The tsunami’s first victim has been the island of Banaba, a region of our nation that has, unfortunately, experienced a long history of natural disasters and ravaging of its natural resources. This has been further worsened in recent times by the long-term neglect of its plights by our government.
In addition to the sustained damages to the homes and other buildings, The tsunami has destroyed 1 of the remaining 3 water-cleaning facilities that the approximately 330 inhabitants have been holding on to for basic sustenance. It has also destroyed many fishing boats and equipment, further stressing the limited food sources the island has access to. This is, of course, just an immediate advancement of the underlying problems the island has been facing for decades.
Unfortunately, the urgency of this matter doesn’t seem to be shared by certain members of the Parliament. In this morning’s Parliamentary meeting, broadcasted on radio Kiribati, the Delegate of Tamana Tekeeua Tarati said, “There’s a bigger crisis at hand, which is the rising sea levels and is the main purpose of our meeting today.” Though rising sea levels are a grave issue for our nation, this statement is but a blatant disregard for the starvation and loss of livelihoods for the hundreds of citizens currently experiencing the first of the tsunamis in Banaba. It is, to say the very least, out of touch and aloof and an affront to the Banabans facing this crisis.
An emergency session of the Parliament has been called and the 7th sitting of the 12 Manaeaba Ni Maungatabu has been pushed forward for the MPs to debate this important issue.
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