OCHA Situation Report No. 8
South Pacific: Tsunami
9 April 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

This situation report is based on information received from the National 
Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and National Disaster Council (NDC) in 
the Solomon Islands, the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Fiji, 
OCHA Offices in Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Bangkok, UN agencies, NGOs, 
donors and media sources.

I. SITUATION

1. An earthquake measuring 8.1 struck 345km northwest of the Solomon 
Islands' capital Honiara at 0740 local time on 02 April. (2040 GMT 01 
April). The earthquake created a tsunami causing casualties and 
significant damage in the Solomon Islands. The NDC reports that the 
affected area includes Gizo, Simbo, Ranogga, Shortland Islands, Munda, 
Noro, Vella la Vella, Kolombangarra and parts of the southern coast of 
Choiseul. Gizo, Simbo Island and the central southern coast of Choiseul 
between Moli and Posarae and Sasamunga are worst-affected areas.

2. The Government of the Solomon Islands (GoSI) estimates the casualty 
figure at 35. GoSI estimates the number of internally displaced (IDPs) 
in the worst-affected areas at around 5,500 people, although other 
sources suggest that the actual number of displaced may be considerably 
higher. Some 1,500 IDPs are currently located in twelve spontaneous 
camps near Gizo. The priority areas for delivery of relief supplies are 
at the moment Shortland, Choisuel, Rendova, Vella Le Vella and Simbo 
Islands.

3. Some villages in low-lying areas have sustained the full impact of 
the tsunami wave and have been heavily affected, particularly on Gizo 
and Simbo Islands. Villages on other, more mountainous islands 
(Ranonggo, Vela, Kolombarra, Randova) were damaged by the landslides.

4. Aftershocks are continuing, although have reduced in the recent days. 
Two heavy tremors (magnitude 5 and 6), followed by several lesser ones 
reported in the night of 7/8 April, and medium tremor during the night 
of 8/9 April. Majority of earthquake-affected people continue to camp on 
higher ground due to fear of another earthquake/tsunami or destruction 
of their houses.

5. Lifting of seabed and reefs to 1-2 meters and the subsequent 
implications on livelihood and fishing opportunities for coastal 
populations require a separate environmental impact assessment. At least 
one village reported dead fish floating in the lagoons and clan shells 
drying up.

6. According to Red Cross, there is currently sufficient food (rice) in 
store in Gizo. Shortage of non-food items such as tools, bush knives, 
tarpaulins, mosquito nets and watsan materials continues.

7. A new assessment of the Gizo hospital revealed that the extent of 
earthquake damage is lower then previously expected and the facility 
(except staff quarters) could be reopened in the near future.

8. Some communities may be dissatisfied with the relief provided 
to-date. Additional police and relief will be sent in advance to 
Sassamunga on a police patrol boat before the arrival of a barge with 
relief items due to possible unrest.

II. NATIONAL RESPONSE

9. Coordination: A forward presence of Natural Disaster Management 
Officer (NDMO) and UNDAC/TSF staff is present in Gizo, where the NDMO 
and UNDAC staff facilitate coordination meetings twice daily, at 0800hrs 
and 1800hrs.

10. Food distribution is being handed-over from the Red Cross to the 
NDMO and local authorities. The Red Cross will continue to coordinate 
distribution of non-food relief items.

11. Assessments: Compilation of assessment data is still ongoing, 
although household-level analysis will take several more days to be put 
together. Further to the coordination arrangements put in place, the 
first NDMO situation report was completed on 08 April. The agencies are 
requested to provide their information to the NDMO by 1400hrs, which 
would allow the NDMO to provide a report to the SI Cabinet by 1500hrs. A 
group of engineers and geologists are undertaking a series of technical 
assessments in Ranongga. Separate assessments are taking place in 
several locations along the southern coast of the Choiseul island.

12. In Honiara, UNDAC and NDMO officer continue to operate the airport 
reception centre to receive, register and guide incoming relief teams. 
UNDAC will transition management of the Airport Reception Centre to NDMO 
on 10-11 April.

13. Discussions are ongoing between the NRC and the UN RC/UNDAC on 
forward planning for early recovery activities. NDC will be developing a 
recovery-focused Service Delivery Plan.

14. Logistics and telecommunications: Delivery operations in Gizo and 
surrounding islands will be coordinated jointly between the Red Cross 
and the Provincial Executive Coordinating Committee (PECC comprised of 
PDC, NDMO, SIG), assisted by the UNDAC team and SIPF (Solomon Islands 
Police Force). IFRC / Solomon Islands Red Cross(SIRC) and Solomon 
Islands Police Force (SIPF) agreed that they will take charge of 
distribution of relief items and asset allocation respectively. A 
three-day delivery plan is being formalized that will see assets 
carrying supplies on a scheduled basis until the emergency phase is 
concluded.

15. Supply of medical emergency kits, rice, taiyo and water rations were 
dispatched on 09 April to Shortlands, Sasamungga (Choiseul Island) and 
Vella La Vella. Additional supply of Red Cross food supplies was 
dispatched to Sasamungga.

16. Storage is being consolidated in Gizo in order to allow 
redistribution of relief items to the outlying islands. The Gizo wharf 
is being prepared for night-time loading/unloading operations.

17. Telekom have installed a new telephone and fax facility within Munda 
station.

18. Health: The Ministry of Health (MOH), in cooperation with WHO, are 
preparing a surveillance system to monitor diarrhoea-related illness, 
malaria and measles. According to the same ministry, sufficient medical 
supplies have been received in Gizo.

19. UNICEF is working with MOH and WHO to organise a measles and 
campaign for 6-59 month old children. UNICEF and WHO are also preparing 
additional distribution of anti-malarial drugs. Save the Children 
Alliance and UNICEF are planning a more thorough assessment of the 
well-being of children affected by the tsunami.

20. Water and sanitation: Sanitation in the IDP camps near Gizo 
continues to be inadequate. Pit latrines are being constructed by 
community members. The Save the Children provided water purification 
equipment to five locations. Oxfam delivered watsan equipment, tools, 
safety equipment for boats, outboard motors and fuel tanks to Gizo.

III. INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE

21. UNICEF is mobilising a eight additional Full Emergency Health units 
to replenish the initial units, as well as 30,000 oral rehyrdration 
salts sachets and 30,000 water purification tablets.

22. Two Air Load Teams, consisting of 3 RNZDF personnel and accompanied 
by pellets and forklift have been provided to assist in the air planning 
and loading tasks of supplies at Henderson Airport, Honiara.  The team 
will remain in the Solomon Islands until 15 April to ensure emergency 
supplies arriving by plane are efficiently and safely unloaded and 
repacked for distribution via plane and boat to the affected areas.

23. New Zealand Red Cross dispatched three international staff (Water 
Sanitation Engineer, Media Liaison Officer, and a Field assessment 
Coordinators) and a set of telecommunication equipment to assist SIRC as 
a part of the IFRC coordinated response. Caritas Aotearoa NZ funded 
reconstruction of water tanks, church health and education 
infrastructure, as well as supported trauma counselling through the 
local churches in Gizo. Oxfam NZ is deploying a team of disaster 
management, water and sanitation, public health and shelter experts to 
undertake assessments.

24. Several New Zealand NGOs launched appeals related to the Solomon 
Islands tsunami. These include: Christian World Service (CWS), Caritas 
Aotearoa New Zealand, World Vision New Zealand, ChildFund New Zealand 
and Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). UNICEF NZ, Save the 
Children and NZ Red Cross also receive individual donations. Also UNICEF 
National Committee in Australia has launched an appeal to support the 
tsunami response.

III. REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE

25. UNDAC Honiara is compiling an overview of donor contributions to 
determine where additional funding or resources may be required. 
Collated needs and damage assessment data from the affected areas is 
also urgently awaited.

This situation report, together with further information on ongoing 
emergencies, is also available on the OSOCC Internet Website 
http://www.unocha.org/vosocc and on the OCHA Internet Website 
http://www.reliefweb.int/.


UNDAC Team Contact Details:

UNDAC Team leader
Location: National Disaster Management Office, Honiara
Office +677 27 837, +677 27 051
Mobile +677 88716, +677 88718

UNDAC Field Team, Gizo
Location: Provincial Administrators Office for NDMO,
Mobile  +677 88 697, +677 88 696
Satellite +870 764 130894
New! e-mail: undacsi@gmail.com

For detailed information please contact:

OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok)

Ms. Amanda Pitt
Regional Public Information and Advocacy Officer
Tel. + 66 2288 1195
Fax:  +66 2288 1043
Mob. + 66 1374 1035
e-mail: pitta@un.org

Desk Officers:
  NYC - Mr. Wojtek Wilk (desk officer for SI earthquake and tsunami)
   Tel. +1-917 367 9748
   e-mail: wilkw@un.org
  GVA - Mr. Erik Kastlander Tel.
   +41-22-917 1587

Press contact:
  NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker Tel. +1-917 367 5126
  GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs Tel. +41-22-917 2653


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