South Pacific: Tsunami - OCHA-12: 14-Apr-07
OCHA Situation Report No. 12
South Pacific: Tsunami
14 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) of
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 on the Richter scale 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 to the Solomon Islands. 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, western coast of Ranongga and the central southern coast
of Choiseul between Moli and Posarae and Sasamunga are worst-affected
areas.
2.The official casualty figures are still estimated at 35, through some
media put the number at 43. A total of 9,000 people are said to have
been affected.
3.A team of geologists assessing the western Solomon Islands concluded
that the possibility of another 8-magnitude earthquake is highly
unlikely. However, aftershocks are expected to continue for at least a
few weeks. A separate Japanese-US team is assessing the tsunami impact,
to feed into future reconstruction and development planning.
4.A Taiwanese fishing vessel (Yuh Fa 201) on ferrying a medical team to
assist tsunami victims in Gizo, struck a reef off Gizo Island. 16
medical workers and the two tsunami victims were evacuated by a US Navy
helicopter. The vessel crew remained onboard.
5.The Red Cross assessed 44 villages in mid south-west coast of
Choiseul. Some 3,600 people have been affected by the tsunami in the
surveyed area; 63% of family houses have been destroyed. Some 3,000
people are staying in camps near Sassamunga (Choiseul). In Kolambangara
Island, 90% of the houses of Ringgi Cove village have been destroyed. In
the Shortland Islands, population of Pirumeri village is in need of
shelter and sanitation. Additional supplies were dispatched by the NDMO
for Choisuel and the Shortland Islands.
6.Populations living in the IDP camps are facing environmental health
risks, particularly from malaria. The camps are also very crowded which
results in a lack of privacy and psychosocial distress. A mobile clinic
is operating in the Gizo camps, assisting some 50-60 patients a day. The
supply of food in the Gizo market has visibly improved.
7.Below is a table summarising the status of health care facilities in
the tsunami-affected area: hospitals, Area Health Centres (AHC) and
Rural Health Centres (RHC)
|------------------------+------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------|
| Location | Status | Requirements |
|------------------------+------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------|
|Gizo Hospital |OPD, PHC, dental/x-ray/pharmacy buildings destroyed by|Support to basic health care unit needed |
| |the tsunami; |Health Promotion building and maternity |
| |Structural damage to the main hospital building and |ward extension may be renovated |
| |CSP health promotion building |Reconstruction 20+ staff houses needed |
| |Water supply damaged | |
| |Gardens, amenities and staff housing destroyed | |
| |Basic health care unit shot down due to heavy rains | |
| |In-patients being transferred to Munda hospital | |
|------------------------+------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------|
|Sasamunga, Choiseul Bay |Staff housing destroyed | |
|------------------------+------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------|
|Taro Hospital, Choiseul |Minor damage to ancillary building | |
|Bay | | |
|------------------------+------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------|
|Voza RHC, Choiseul Bay |Damage to the clinic (aerial assessment), extensive |On-ground assessment needed |
| |damage to surrounding village | |
|------------------------+------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------|
|Helena Goldie Hospital, |Water supply cut off |Re-connection of water supply |
|Munda |Damage to ancillary building and staff houses |Rehabilitation of staff housing |
|------------------------+------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------|
|Mondo Nurse Aid Post |Heavy structural damage. Clinic closed. |New clinic to be considered. |
| |Equipment moved to the local church | |
|------------------------+------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------|
|Toumoa RHC |Structural and internal damage |A temporary clinic has been established. |
| | |New clinic to be considered |
|------------------------+------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------|
|Lale RHC, Ranongga |Heavy structural damage |On-ground assessment needed |
|------------------------+------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------|
|Varese RHC |Clinic appears destroyed (aerial assessment) Temporary|On-ground assessment needed |
| |clinic established | |
|------------------------+------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------|
|Vonunu AHC |Structural damage to birthing and male ward walls |Structural assessment needed |
|------------------------+------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------|
|Pienunua RHC |Structural damage; short-term occupancy possible |Structural assessment needed |
|------------------------+------------------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------|
II. NATIONAL RESPONSE
8.The NDC chairman Fred Fakarii and NDMO Director Loti Yates visited the
Gizo Operations Centre on 13 April and were briefed on the situation.
Based on assessment results, the NDMO produced the first overview on
tsunami impact and related needs.
9.A NDMO officer is continuing to operate the airport reception centre
to receive, register and guide incoming relief teams.
10.The Rotary Club dispatched assorted emergency supplies to Munda,
including birth kits, medical supplies and 400 shelter boxes.
11.Information on country-level international assistance is now being
coordinated by NDMO in Honiara. Offers of assistance should be sent to:
ndc@solomon.com.sb
III. IN-COUNTRY INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
12.The UNDAC Team is due to depart the Solomon Islands on 19 April. The
UN Resident Coordination (RC) and NDMO are finalizing the UNDAC exit
strategy and transition arrangements. A UNDP/BCPR member of UNDAC and
the NDC Technical Advisory Team are developing a recovery action plan.
An OCHA staff member has been requested to remain in Honiara after 19
April to provide support to the NDMO and Technical Advisory Team for up
to three weeks. The UNDAC exit strategy will be available from the
Virtual OSOCC when finalised.
13.The DMT and stakeholder meeting, chaired by the UN RC, was held on 13
April. The next stakeholder meeting is planned for 16 April at 1400
hours.
14.Ten UNICEF personnel are involved in the response activities. To-date
UNICEF transported emergency health kits, ORS sachets, multivitamins,
soap, water containers, tools, assorted toys and 25 'school in a box'
kits to the tsunami-affected areas. UNICEF is also involved in the
Vitamin A and measles vaccination campaign in conjunction with the
Ministry of Health and WHO. On 13 April, the Agency moved a supply of
NFIs (tarpaulins, tents, water containers, collapsible tanks, ORS
sachets) from Papua New Guinea via a PNG Air Force airplane. UNICEF
Emergency Health Kits from Philippines and Vanuatu are also being
delivered. 13 recreation kits are being set up in Gizo in collaboration
with Save the Children.
15.Food items and cooking equipment (valued USD 23,000), donated by
"Feed the Hungry" NGO, were transported to Gizo by RAMSI on 13 April.
IV. INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
16.The Indonesian Ambassador handed over a donation of $11,655 to
Solomon Islands Police and NDMO.
17.Five medical doctors from Ecuador are expected soon to work as
volunteers in the tsunami affected communities.
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
e-mail: undacsi@gmail.com
UNDAC Field Team, Gizo
Location: Provincial Administrators Office for NDMO,
Mobile +677 88 697, +677 88 696
Satellite +870 764 130894
e-mail: undacgizo@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)
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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Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
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Center for International web: www.cidi.org
Disaster Information listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
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