OCHA Situation Report No. 2
South Pacific Tsunami
3 April 2007


This situation report is based on information received from the UNDP
Deputy Resident Representative and National Disaster Management Office
(NDMO) in the Solomon Islands, the OCHA Office in Fiji and Bangkok, 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 2 April. (2040 GMT 1
April). The earthquake created a tsunami causing significant damage in
the Solomon Islands. There are also reports of limited damage in Papua
New Guinea.

2. The earthquake has been followed by a series of at least 27 smaller
aftershocks, though no further damage has been reported. The Australian
Seismological Centre has warned that there is a high possibility of
further large earthquakes in the days to come.

3. The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) has confirmed 13 dead,
7 missing, 19 injured and over 916 homes destroyed in the affected areas
in Western and Choiseul provinces. The NDMO believes that some 5,409
have been displaced.

4. The Government of the Solomon Islands (GoSI) declared a state of
emergency on 2 April. Choiseul, New Georgia Islands and Shortland
Islands in Western Province are among the worst affected areas. The
Solomon Islands Police reports that the worst damage is on Gizo Island.
The GoSI asked international partners to clarify the types of assistance
available.

5. An assessment mission organized by the National Disaster Council
(NDC) on Choiseul Island on 2 April reports an estimated 1,000 houses
destroyed. An aerial assessment on the same day also confirmed
widespread destruction. More detailed information has been difficult to
obtain due to communication outages and difficulties with access. A
second NDC assessment will take place in the next few days.

II. NATIONAL RESPONSE? SOLOMON ISLANDS

6. Three Search and Rescue missions are currently taking place,
organized by the GoSI and the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon
Islands (RAMSI). RAMSI will also provide military transport planes for
the delivery of relief assistance and medical supplies.

7. The NDMO Central Control Group is currently coordinating humanitarian
assistance (with support from the Red Cross) and has established an
office in Munda. The National Disaster Council is the main Government
decision-making body and the Prime Minister has requested that all
relief assistance be channelled through the NDC.

8. The NDMO will send 4 boats carrying food, water, and medical supplies
to affected areas including Choiseul and Shortland Islands on 3 April.
The journey between Honiara and the affected provinces can take up to 12
hours.

9. A health assessment is being conducted by the Undersecretary for
Health Services, and he is expected to return to Honiara with a report
by 4 April.

III. INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

10. The Government of Solomon Island has requested OCHA to
operationalise its integrated response mechanisms. Subsequently, a UN
Disaster and Assessment Coordination (UNDAC) team is being deployed to
the Solomon Islands.

11. The UNDAC team consist of members from AusAID (Australia),
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board (Melbourne, Australia),
Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (New Zealand), OCHA and
UNDSS. OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific has deployed a
Humanitarian Affairs Officer from their Papua New Guinea office to join
the UNDAC mission.

12. UNICEF has pre-positioned emergency medical supplies in the Solomon
Islands for up to 10,000 people including 10 emergency kits, 5 'school
in a box' kits and 3 recreation kits. The UNICEF Pacific Emergency Focal
Point will travel to the Islands on 3 April.

13. ECHO will deploy its Regional Rapid Response Assessment Officer to
the Solomon Islands on 3 April.

14. NGO Telecoms Sans Frontieres will deploy a small team to Honiara
from Bangkok on 3 April to provide telecommunications support to relief
operations, including to the UNDAC team.

15. A UN DMT meeting will take place tomorrow in Suva Fiji, with the
participation of UNDP, UNICEF and WHO staff members in the Solomon
Islands.

16. WHO is deploying an Emergency and Humanitarian Action programme
staff member based in Suva, Fiji who expected to be in the Solomon
Islands on 4 April.  WHO has been coordinating with the Ministry of
Health in monitoring the situation and has pledged support for health
sector response.  WHO will be providing technical support and will
mobilize resources for malaria control activities for the disaster.

17. An IOM team is on the way to the Solomons for the assessment and
relief response.  Another team based in East Timor - Dili is on
stand-by.

Contributions

18. The Australian Government will contribute A$2 million (approximately
US$1.6 million) in aid.

19. The Government of New Zealand will contribute NZ$500,000
(approximately US$ 360,000) to the GoSI. New Zealand is also sending
1,000 tarpaulins, 1,000 20-litre water tanks and 100 kitchen kits to
Munda on 3 April using a Hercules transport plane. Another transport
plane is standing by to deliver additional relief items.

20. The New Zealand Red Cross has pledged NZ$10,000 (approximately US$
7,000) to the Solomon Islands Red Cross and provided 100 family kits
(self-contained kitchen sets), 50 hurricane lamps and water containers.

21. IFRC will provide DREF funding (40,000 EUR, approximately US$
53,000) to fund an assessment team and initial relief assistance for
2,000 people. An IFRC International Disaster Response Team is on
stand-by.

IV. ASSISTANCE NEEDS

22. The NDC has identified the following priority needs: Shelter items
(tents and tarpaulins), Food and utensils, Water and containers, Medical
supplies, Clothing and Tools.

23. The main hospitals in Gizo and Munda are reportedly damaged and
beyond use. The Prime Minister has asked for a field hospital to be
established in Gizo.

24. Public health experts are warning that there is a danger of a
malaria epidemic in April among the displaced population. The
Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) will work with the Government
to distribute mosquito nets, spray insecticide and disseminate health
information to affected communities in Western Province. Although
medical supplies at Gizo hospital have been damaged, stocks will be
moved into affected areas from elsewhere in the country.

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

Tel.:  +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel.   +41-22-917 20 10

For detailed information please contact:

OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok)
  Fax: +66 2288 1043

Mr. Markus Werne, Deputy Head of Office
  Tel. + 66 2288 2558
  Mob. + 66 1917 8940

Ms. Amanda Pitt, Regional Public Information and Advocacy Officer
  Tel. + 66 2288 1195
  Mob. + 66 1374 1035

Desk Officers:
  NYC - Mr. Gregoire de Brancovan Tel. +1 212 963 2629
  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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