18/04/2024 Isole Salomone (Solomon Islands), Guadalcanal, Honiara
“If you ever come across anything suspicious like this item, please do not pick it up, contact your local law and/or enforcement agency for assistance”
More than eight decades ago in the 1940s, World War II raged across the Pacific as ferocious battles took place between the Allies and Japan. One of the most significant events was at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands where the Japanese advance on the Pacific was stopped by the Allies and where around 30,000 lives were lost. Just over eight decades later, the deadly legacy of the battle continues. On Foreign Correspondent this week, reporter Stephanie March meets the Solomon Islanders who are still being severely impacted by the war in the Pacific. On land, the islands are littered with unexploded devices – almost 50,000 have been discovered since 2011. Accidental detonations of the bombs and other munitions have caused deaths and injuries and survivors are left to struggle for themselves with very little support. In the water surrounding the islands, hundreds of corroding shipwrecks from the war still contain trapped oil supplies that some describe as a ticking time bomb. A major oil spill from one of these rusting wrecks could be a massive disaster. The Solomon Islanders believe those who fought a war on their land should be doing more to clean up the mess they left behind. In the worlds of one local: “When the war ended US, Japanese and allied forces went home in peace. We still do not have peace, until we are safe here in the Solomon Islands.”
If you find anything that appears to be an explosive device, do not touch it, leave it where it is and call the police. We will contact the appropriate agencies to properly dispose of the item.
Dear editors, Biography of a bomb is aimed at highlighting the danger caused by unexploded bombs. Moreover, the most important aspect is that we work completely non profit, what drives us is raising awerness about this topic. We make use of your pictures and articles, but we need them to put a context in how findings are done. We trust in your understanding. We will (and we always do) cite the source and the author. We thank you for your comprehension.
