OCHA Situation Report No. 10
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.

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. 
According to media reports, the earthquake of 02 April lifted the island 
of Ranongga nearly 10 feet (3 meters) out of the water and moved its 
shoreline more than 200 feet (60 meters) out to sea.

2. The Government of the Solomon Islands (GoSI) estimates the casualty 
figure at 35 (some reports put the number at 41 or 43). The number of 
affected populations is estimated at 9,000 people The population of 
Solomon Islands in 2006 was approx. 550,000 or approximately 1.6% of the 
population. At least 1,500 people still require urgent assistance.

3. Shelter and return of the displaced are the main challenges. The 
tsunami-affected communities are camping on the hillsides, afraid to 
return to their coastal homes due to frequent tremors. Many of the 
displaced left homes that were not damaged, increasing the numbers in 
the camps. In view of expected heavy rains, the government may make a 
decision of providing the displaced with tents instead of tarpaulins. 
Should such decision be taken, a supply of additional tents may be 
necessary. In some camps, trenches had to be dug around the temporary 
shelters to prevent flooding.

4. Aftershocks continue across the region, although the frequency and 
magnitude are decreasing. Several 3-4-magnitude aftershocks were 
reported in the last 24 hours. Although the local authorities report 
their activity levels of the Simbo and Ranongga volcanoes as normal, a 
group of volcanologists will assess them in the coming days.

5. In Gizo, tanks and water pipes have suffered damage and require 
urgent repair. Water and purification tablets are available but water 
distribution is a problem due to considerable distances between water 
sources and the camps. In some other areas, the tsunami polluted local 
rivers.

6. Food is available, although damaged or lost canoes have impacted on 
the fishing activities. Tinned fish may need to be distributed until 
normal fishing resumes. Provision of fishing canoes is one of the main 
needs in rebuilding the livelihoods of tsunami-affected communities.

7. Communicable diseases are under control. Only a few cases of 
diarrhoea have been reported. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has 
surveillance systems in place for a possible outbreak of malaria. Bed 
nets impregnated with insecticide are being distributed. Heavy rains 
forecasted for the next days can result in an increase in malaria cases.

8. Save the Children (SCF) conducted a child protection assessment of 
Gizo, Simbo, Munda, Rendova, Vella La Vella and Renongga. No serious 
child protection issues were identified. Psychosocial issues are however 
of concern as people appear to be severely traumatized and do not want 
to return to the coastal areas. Public messages are being broadcast 
through the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC) encouraging 
the communities to return.

9. Needs assessment and response is being hampered by lack of access to, 
and communication with, the affected areas. Some areas have not yet been 
reached by the relief teams, although most radio networks contact has 
been re-established. Compilation of needs assessment is ongoing. Gizo is 
serving as the main relief hub in the tsunami-affected areas.

II. NATIONAL RESPONSE

10. NDMO has taken over from UNDAC the management of a reception center 
at the Honiara International Airport.

11. Assessments: The Government is planning another assessment and 
distribution of emergency food supplies around the Shortland Islands 
from early morning on 12 April.

12. Health: A measles vaccination campaign is planned for 16 April 
(UNICEF/MOH). The MOH has indicated that six to eight weeks' supply of 
pharmaceuticals is available in the tsunami-affected areas. The Ministry 
confirmed order of 90,000 Vitamin and Mineral Powder sachets and 270,000 
multiple micronutrient tablets.A basic health care unit was established 
in Sasamungga. Technical assessments and repair works at the Gizo 
hospital are ongoing; the facility should be operational within a week.

13. NGO response: The Salesians of Don Bosco dispatched a ship from 
Honiara to Simbo and Ranongga with water, three 3,000-liter water tanks, 
60 bales of mixed clothing, 1000 treated mosquito bed nets, 1000kg of 
rice, canned fish and other assorted food items.  Panatina Chemists 
donated $10,000 for the relief efforts.

III. IN-COUNTRY INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE

14. Coordination: The UNDAC team continues to be based within and 
working closely with the NDMO in Honiara. Three UNDAC members and two 
TSF staff members are operating a joint UNDAC/NDMO Coordination Point at 
the Provincial Administrators' Office in Gizo. Richard Dictus, the UN 
Resident Coordinator (RC) travelled to Gizo at 11 April to meet the 
UNDAC field team and stakeholders involved in the response.

15. Two scientists from the International Tsunami Survey Team (ITST) 
have arrived in the Solomon Islands for an early assessment of the 
tsunami and earthquake impact.

16. Health: UNICEF sent 8,000 ORS sachets to Gizo on 11 April. SCF 
distributed basic medicines and water purification tablets to four 
villages and camps in Munda, Rendavo and Vella Lavella.

17. Water and Sanitation: A mobile distribution point for three camps 
with over 1,500 people has been set up in Gizo by SCF Australia.  A 
mobile water supply system has been installed in Munda to service five 
camps with over 2,700 people.  Another SCF teams have been airlifted in 
by RAMSI helicopters to establish potable systems in Rendova Island. A 
sea-based distribution system is providing potable water by boat to 
affected people in Rendova Harbour and Mandale.

18. A joint team from SCF Australia, Muslim Aid Australia, and Global 
Medic has restored the water supply to the Munda and Gizo hospitals.

19. Food: WFP staff, deployed to the Solomon Islands in the initial 
stages of the emergency, report that there is no need for WFP 
involvement in food distribution as it is being taken care by the NGOs. 
WFP has assisted the NDMO with commodity tracking.

20. Shelter: Oxfam, on behalf of the shelter cluster, convened a meeting 
with the NDC and provincial authorities to initiate discussions on 
transitional shelter, permanent housing, rehabilitation of public 
buildings (hospitals, schools), building codes and practice.

21. Education and child protection: A UNICEF education officer is 
supporting the Ministry of Education in Honiara. A UNICEF protection 
officer will support the Ministry of Women, Youth and Children. SCF 
distributed a safe play kit, donated by UNICEF, to one of the camps in 
Gizo.

IV. INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE

22. Japan donated US$300,000 to UNICEF and US$200,000 to IFRC to 
continue with their relief efforts. The British High Commission provided 
$250,000 for purchase of relief supplies. Taiwan mobilized its ship to 
transport rice, vegetables and other food items from Honiara to Gizo. 
Two planes are also to deliver relief supplies donated by Papua New 
Guinea.

23. Australia increased its assistance in response to the Solomon 
Islands earthquake to approximately USD 3 million. Six Australian 
medical teams have been deployed to the disaster-affected areas 
(Sasamungga and islands of Ranongga and Vella Lavella). RAMSI is 
conducting assessments and continues to provide transportation and 
logistics support. A C-130 transport airplane is to depart for Munda on 
11 April with various NFIs, including sleeping bags, tents, lights, 
heaters, clean water, cooking aids and tools.

V. TRANSITION TO RECOVERY

24. Focus of the coordination meetings in Honiara and Gizo is shifting 
to early recovery and rehabilitation issues. The NDC Technical Advisory 
Group on recovery is to meet for the first time on 12 April.

25. Immediate recovery needs identified in Gizo include the 
rehabilitation of a local hospital, landing craft ramp, water supply 
system, bridges, culverts and roads, as well as support for the 
community housing.

26. IFRC is compiling long-term recovery projects in water and 
sanitation, particularly rehabilitation of gravity-fed water supply 
systems. IFRC is also considering deployment of mobile saw mills with 
trained operators to support housing reconstruction. One mill can 
process enough timber for one house per day.

27. Habitat for Humanity in Australia has offered assistance in 
permanent housing solutions.


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
e-mail: undacsi@gmail.com

For detailed information please contact:

OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok)

  Mr. Rajan Gengaje
   Regional Disaster Response Adviser
   Tel: + 66-2288-2572
   Fax: +66-2288-1043
   Mob: + 66-8-1916-1271
   e-mail: gengaje@un.org

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

  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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