Text and photos by Ben Bilua, Solomon Islands Red Cross volunteer. The morning of July 22, 2026, began with a mission of hope. Two vehicles carrying Solomon Islands Red Cross volunteers rolled out across Gizo Island, heading deep into communities still recovering from the devastating impact of Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Maila. Their mission was simple but significant: deliver relief supplies to families whose lives had been turned upside down by one of the most powerful storms to strike Western Province in recent memory. Among the many stories of hardship and resilience uncovered that day was that of 60-year-old Tuma Volo of Sitokava village. As the convoy pulled into the village, volunteers noticed an elderly woman sitting quietly by the roadside. Curious about the unusual activity, she watched as they unloaded relief supplies for affected households. When volunteers explained their purpose, Volo did not hesitate to share her story. A night of terror "A mango tree fell on our house and we are trying to fix it at the moment," she said. For Volo and her family, Cyclone Maila was not just another storm. It was a terrifying experience that nearly ended in tragedy. She recalls the night in April the cyclone struck with frightening clarity. "My husband and I were sleeping with our grandchildren when the tree fell on our house," she said. The sound of the crashing tree jolted everyone awake, plunging the household into confusion and fear as powerful winds battered their home under cover of darkness. "Luckily, it landed only inches away from where my husband, me and my grandchildren were sleeping. We hurried to the kitchen. We arranged a small space, put down our mat and stayed there until morning," she said. Throughout the night, the family listened to the howling winds outside, waiting anxiously for daylight. It was only after sunrise that they fully understood how close they had come to disaster. "In the morning, we realised the mango
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