Nine Islands Media

A full house in Wellington for the final Doc Edge screening of The War Below.

Thank you to everyone who came to watch, listen and understand why unexploded World War II bombs are still a deadly reality in Solomon Islands more than 80 years later.

It was especially powerful to have Maeverlyn Pitanoe and Dorothy Wickham from Bomb Free Solomon Islands with us for the Q&A.

In 2021, a bomb buried beneath the ground exploded during a family gathering in Honiara. Two young men were killed. Maeverlyn spent 53 days in hospital and continues to live with serious injuries.

She went on to found Bomb Free Solomon Islands, the country’s only survivor-led organisation supporting those affected, educating communities and advocating for the bombs to be surveyed and removed.

Alongside the screenings, Maeverlyn and Dorothy met with diplomats, government officials and Pacific organisations to build greater understanding and regional support for this urgent issue.

Their Wellington visit was supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Nine Islands Media.

@mfat_pacific

#ClearTheBombs