OCHA Situation Report No. 3
South Pacific: Tsunami
4 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 2 April. (2040 GMT 1 
April). The earthquake created a tsunami causing significant damage in 
the Solomon Islands.

2. The NDC reports that the affected area includes Gizo, Simbo, Ranogga, 
Shortlands, Munda, Noro, Vella la Vella, Kolombangarra and parts of the 
southern coast of Choiseul. Aerial surveillance on 2 April showed that 
the worst-affected areas appear to be the southern coast of Gizo, Simbo 
island and the central southern coast of Choiseul between Moli and 
Posarae and Sasamunga. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services 
(MHMS) estimates that up to 50,000 people may be affected out of a total 
population of 100,000 in Western and Choiseul provinces.

3. The NDC puts the current death toll at 34, with several dozen 
missing. 5,500 people are thought to have been displaced in total. NDC 
estimates that 1,500 people are displaced on Gizo Island, most of whom 
are now living in make-shift settlements in the hills above Gizo town. 
Three more IDP camps are known to have been established in Western 
Province at Mumamgu, Titana and Numanda.

4. NDC estimates that between 900 and 2,500 houses have been destroyed. 
The tsunami caused widespread damage to homes constructed from 
traditional materials, while the earthquake itself caused more damage to 
sturdily-constructed buildings as well.

5. The hospital in Gizo is reportedly damaged beyond use. A temporary 
hospital has been established and the worst-injured have been evacuated 
to Honiara. There are reports that health facilities in Taro, 
Sasamungga, Vella la Vella (Maravari) and Shortlands (Toumoa) are also 
badly damaged and 50 percent of all health centres in the affected areas 
are suffering radio outages. UNICEF reports that 30 primary schools have 
been damaged.

6. Limited damage was caused by the tsunami in areas of Papua New Guinea 
including Kangu Wharf, Buin and Torokina (Bougainville), Lae and Rossel 
Island (Milne Bay Province). Local media reports that seven homes on 
Rossel Island were swept away.

II. NATIONAL RESPONSE? SOLOMON ISLANDS

7. The Government's response is coordinated by the NDMO and NDC, chaired 
by the Department of Home Affairs. NDC is establishing 'Action Desks' in 
the areas of food, health, shelter, and infrastructure, led by the 
respective Ministries.

8. The Central Coordinating Group (CCG), headed by the Chief Police 
Officer, is tasked by the NDC to consider operational issues. The CCG 
has established a sub-office in Munda, the largest town in Western 
Province.

9. Western and Choiseul provinces have been declared 'national disaster 
areas', which gives the Government enhanced access to private and public 
transportation assets and additional budgetary flexibility.

10. The NDC carried out an assessment mission in Western Province on 2 
April. The assessment team included representatives of the NDMO, 
Government ministries, the police department, the Red Cross, NZ Aid and 
UNDP. Findings from the assessment were issued on 4 April and key facts 
are included in this report. Detailed assessments are now expected to 
take place in other affected areas.

11. The Government of the Solomon Islands (GoSI) and the Regional 
Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) have deployed 3 search and 
rescue teams.

12. MHMS will set up 8 emergency field hospitals, including 4 in 
hospitals and 4 in rural clinics. Each unit will cover the medical needs 
of 10,000 people for 3 months. UNICEF will support 4 units and WHO and 
others partners will support the remaining 4. Confirmed locations for 
the hospitals include Taro, Gizo and Sasamunda.

13. The NDC will deploy a medical team consisting of 6 doctors and 13 
nurses to Munda, Gizo and Taro Island on 4 April.

III. INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

14. On 3rd April, the GoSI asked OCHA to operationalise its integrated 
response mechanisms. A UN Disaster and Assessment Coordination (UNDAC) 
team has been deployed to the Solomon Islands and is scheduled to arrive 
on 5 April.

15. The UNDAC team consists of members from AusAID (Australia), 
Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board (Melbourne, Australia), 
Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management (New Zealand), OCHA and 
UNDSS. The 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. UNOSAT will provide support with satellite imagery of 
the affected area.

16. UN agencies and the Red Cross in Fiji convened the Disaster 
Management Team (DMT) meeting on 4 April, joined in teleconference by 
staff in Honiara (UNDP, UNICEF, WHO). The DMT took stock of early 
reports and relief efforts, emphasized support to the UNDAC mission and 
agreed to coordinate activities. An expanded DMT meeting will take place 
on 5 April. A number of UN agencies (including UNDP, UNICEF, UNDSS and 
WHO) have already deployed staff from Fiji to the Solomon Islands.

17. UNICEF has pre-positioned emergency medical supplies in the Solomon 
Islands for 10,000 people and will deploy an additional 8 kits from 
elsewhere in the region in conjunction with WHO.

18. WHO is planning to supply Emergency Health Kits in coordination with 
partners. The WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) Malaria and 
Vector Borne Diseases unit is coordinating with the WHO country Office 
for measures to prevent malaria outbreaks. ICT combo tests will be 
shipped to Honiara by Thursday.

19. RAMSI is providing 4 planes and 1 helicopter for relief operations. 
RAMSI resources are being used to evacuate the worst-injured to Honiara, 
to transport relief assistance to affected areas and facilitate damage 
assessment. 100 Australian Army reservists have been deployed to support 
RAMSI in affected areas.

20. AusAID is deploying a health assessment team to assess health sector 
reconstruction needs in conjunction with Government assessment teams, 
UNICEF and WHO.

21. World Vision will send a team on 4 April to assist with disaster 
assessment. The team is planning to visit remote rural areas of Western 
and Choiseul Provinces.

Contributions

22. The IFRC launched an appeal for US$ 819,673 on 3 April to assist 
5,000 beneficiaries over a four-month period. In conjunction with the 
Solomon Islands Red Cross (SIRC) the Federation will provide food, basic 
non-food supplies, emergency shelter items, health and hygiene 
promotion, a clean well-water facility and psychosocial support. A 
five-person IFRC assessment team is expected to arrive in the Solomon 
Islands on 4 April. (for more details: please consult : 
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/YSAR-6ZWPKR/$File/Full_Report.pdf)

23. The Government of New Zealand despatched a Hercules transport plane 
to Munda on 4 April to deliver 2.5 tonnes of rice and other relief 
supplies. The New Zealand Red Cross provided 1,000 tarpaulins, 1,000 
20-litre water tanks and 100 kitchen kits on 3 April.

24. The Australian Government has contributed A$2 million (approximately 
US$1.6 million). A$ 500,000 will be provided to Solomon Islands-based 
NGOs Caritas, the Australian Red Cross, World Vision and Oxfam. A 
Hercules transport plane will deliver 500 tarpaulins, 900 water 
containers, 30 nylon ropes, 500 blankets, 50,000 water purifying tablets 
and emergency medical field packs to Western Province on 5 April. A team 
of four medical staff including doctors and nurses will depart from 
Australia on 6 April.

25. The United States will contribute US$ 250,000 to support immediate 
relief needs in the Solomon Islands.

26. The interim Government of Fiji will provide a cash grant of F$ 
25,000 (approximately US$ 15,000) to the GoSI.

IV. ASSISTANCE NEEDS

27. The NDC assessment reported food shortages in Gizo, which are 
expected to worsen. Food markets are reportedly closed, fishing 
disrupted and domestic farming damaged. Shops have stocks of food, but 
have remained closed since the disaster took place.

28. The SIRC reports food shortages and limited supplies of fresh water 
in affected areas. Some of the affected areas are extremely isolated and 
can only be reached by boat.

29. Initial NDC and Red Cross assessments indicate the following 
priority needs:

a. Food
b. Water & Sanitation (including tanks, containers, pumps)
c. Shelter (including tents, tarpaulins, bedding)
d. Medical supplies
e. Non-Food Items (including mosquito nets, cooking utensils)


The Red Cross reports that supplies are available from pre-positioned 
stocks or can be procured locally and/or regionally.

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

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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