OCHA Situation Report No. 9
South Pacific: Tsunami
10 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(1) , 
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 and the number of internally displaced (IDPs) in the 
worst-affected areas at around 5,500 people. Other sources suggest that 
the actual number of the 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. Most of the tsunami-affected villages have been assessed. Majority of 
tsunami-affected people continue to camp out in higher ground due to 
fear of another earthquake or in considerable distance from their 
villages. Trauma counselling appears to be an area requiring increased 
attention.

4. The Red Cross reports that there is enough food in the 
tsunami-affected communities. However, gardens in many locations were 
damaged or destroyed by tsunami or landslides. Most of the communities 
are still afraid of accessing their fields due to fear of landslides and 
therefore rely on food supplies provided by relief agencies (mainly rice 
and noodles). Some Shortland islands' communities buy food in Buin town 
(PNG). In those and many other communities, the tsunami destroyed reefs 
and fishing grounds that were the basis of local livelihoods.

5. Scarcity of water is a significant problem, especially in the areas 
that have been affected by landslides or due to the earthquake have 
experienced a drop or rise in islands' elevation. In most of those 
cases, new water sources may have to be located. General health appears 
to be satisfactory. Registered nurses report usual levels of diarrhea 
and malaria. Nevertheless, medical assistance and medication is still 
needed in the IDP camps, where cases of diarrhoea, flu, fever, cold and 
pneumonia have been reported.

II. NATIONAL RESPONSE

6. The Chairman of the NDC and the Director of the NDMO briefed the 
donors on 10 April 2007 on the current status of the relief operations 
and identified needs in affected areas.

7. The GoSI deployed 87 public servants to the tsunami-affected areas. 
These come from the ministries of agriculture, education (curriculum), 
police and national surveillance (Fire, SIPF, prison), Ministry of 
Health and Medical Services (doctors and nurses, malaria, environment), 
Ministry of National Planning and Aid Coordination (planning, support 
services), Mines and Energy (volcanologists, geologists), Environment, 
Ministry of Provincial Government and Rural Development (rural 
development, support services), Prime Minister's Office (Government 
Communications Unit, Ombudsman, Leadership Code Commission), Ministry of 
Fisheries and Marine Resources and Ministry of Infrastructure and 
Development (transport, infrastructure).

8. Information on the latest cash donations and pledges is being 
consolidated by the NDMO and will be forwarded to the NDC. The NDC will 
inform the Solomon Islands Parliament on the funding made available, 
utilization of funds, identified needs, and any shortfall recorded.

9. A joint NDMO/UNDAC team is conducting a study into the overall 
situation in the affected areas (Western and Choiseul provinces), as 
well as is creating a matrix of needs and relief priorities. The NDMO 
and UNDAC staff are also preparing the movement of goods and services 
coming into Honiara, and those sent to the field via air and sea 
transportation.

10. The relief effort is supported by the Solomon Islands business 
community and NGOs. Solomon Kitano Mendana dispatched $70,000 worth of 
food to Gizo hospital staff and patients. Ngalibiu Tsunami Fundraising 
Committee raised $700. Solomon Airlines allocated two flights (10 and 11 
April) for emergency workers. ANZ Bank Honiara, through Save the 
Children (SCF), supported the NDMO Honiara office with two computers and 
assorted office furniture.

III. IN-COUNTRY INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE

11. Coordination. Three UNDAC members and two TSF staff members continue 
to operate a joint NDMO/UNDAC Coordination Point at the Provincial 
Administrator's Office in Gizo.

12. The structure of the coordination meetings has been changed: cluster 
meetings will now be held at 0800 hours and a general stakeholders' 
coordination meeting at 1800 hours each day. SCF will take-over 
coordination with the national NGOs.

13. A UN Disaster Management Team (DMT) meeting was held on 10 April: 
the UNDAC Team Leader provided an overview by sector, assessments done 
to-date and needs for further assistance.

14. A UN environmental specialist is to arrive in Honiara on 11 April.

15. Logistics/NFI distribution. A logistics coordination group has been 
set up; it includes key actors in charge of warehouse logistics, 
aviation and marine sectors, including the NGO action desk and NDMO 
officers are part of this group.  NDC will assume and the Red Cross will 
relinquish its responsibility for food distribution as of 13 April. 
After that date, the Red Cross will focus only on the distribution of 
NFIs.

16. Red Cross' order of 1000 tarps, 1000 hygiene kits, 1000 kitchen sets 
and 20 large tents is to be delivered from Kuala Lumpur. The NFI 
delivery will be supplemented with the locally-procured tools. World 
Vision dispatched a supply of tarpaulins to Mondo and surrounding areas.

17. Health. The Psychosocial Group meeting took place on 10 April. The 
meeting chaired by UNICEF, with WHO, SCF Australia, UNIFEM, MOH, 
Ministry of Women, Youth and Children's Affairs, Social Welfare Office 
and UNDAC in attendance. Caritas-trained trauma counselling teams from 
the islands of Guadalcanal and Malaita were dispatched to the 
tsunami-affected areas.

18. The Ministry of Health and UNICEF are planning to undertake a 
measles vaccination campaign on 16 April, coupled with distribution of 
ORS. The campaign may be hampered by lack of functioning cold chain in 
Gizo. WHO informs that malaria field teams continue spraying for vector 
control and distributing bednets.

19. Water and sanitation. SCF, in partnership with a Canadian NGO Global 
Medic and Muslim Aid are progressing with the installation of 10 water 
filter systems in the tsunami-affected villages. RAMSI helicopter has 
been used to provide air transportation. SCF, in collaboration with 
UNICEF, is also distributing over 650,000 water purification tablets. A 
SCF team also began water distribution to all camps along the main road 
in Gizo. Oxfam sent piping supplies to Gizo aboard of a French CASA 
airplane, as well as dispatched a pump for Munda hospital. Oxfam is also 
following up on construction of pit latrines, hand-washing facilities 
and rubbish disposal pits in the IDPs' camps. World Vision is planning 
to undertake a rehabilitation of water supplies in coastal villages on 
Renongga. UNICEF visited Camps 1 and 6 in Gizo to investigate diarrhoea 
reports.

20. Communications. Telecoms sans Frontieres has investigated the 
functionality of AM/FM radio facilities at SIBC Gizo, damaged by the 
earthquake.

III. INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE

21. AusAID is continuing its liaison between RAMSI and relief NGOs. The 
Australian Defence Forces (ADF) provide medical personnel and water 
treatment to Barisi, Sambura and two other locations. An ADF 
environmental health team is also present in the Solomon Islands.

22. The French Detachment Support team provided air transportation for 
over 16 tons of rice, medicines, vegetables and other supplies on 7-11 
April 2007.

23. Japan has dispatched three engineers specializing in earthquake 
airstrip assessment. Yamaha Motor company of Japan sent three 23ft 
rayboats and three 40hp motorboat engines, one each for the Western 
Province Assembly, Gizo Hospital and World Vision International. The 
Japanese company has also dispatched an international personnel manager 
and one motorboat mechanic.

24. An American ship USS Stockholm is en-route to Honiara with a supply 
of relief items. The vessel is expected to arrive on 10 or 11 April.

25. The Turkish government transferred US $100,000 to the NDC.

26. WHO is deploying an additional expert to assist in the WHO response 
to the emergency.

27. A Canadian NGO Global Medic has dispatched 100,000 ORS sachets and 
1.4milliion water purification tablets to Honiara for onward 
distribution by SCF.

28. As of Friday 6 April 2007, the SCF Alliance and private donors have 
raised over A$100,000 in funding and in-kind support for the Solomon 
Islands earthquake and tsunami.

IV. TRANSITION TO RECOVERY

29. Focus of coordination meetings in Honiara and Gizo is slowly 
shifting to early recovery and rehabilitation. A Technical Advisory Team 
is being established to support the NDC in the transition process.

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/.

Footnote:

(1) The most affected villages in the Shortland islands were: 1) 
Harehare/Parolang villages; 2) Pirumeri village; 3) Nila Rural Health 
Centre; 4) Nila catholic Station; 5) Nila St,Anna`s Vocational school; 
6)Nila primary school; 7) Kopakopana village; 8) Sapusapuai village; 9) 
Maleai village; 10) Nuhu village; 11) Gaomai village; 12) Korovou sub 
station; 13) Tuha Business houses/villages; 14) Paobu coconut/copra 
mills; 15) Toumoa village; 16) Mono, Falamai village; 17) Lofung, Police 
station.


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
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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