OCHA Situation Report No. 5
South Pacific: Tsunami
7 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 2007. (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 shows that the 
worst-affected areas are the southern coast of Gizo, Simbo Island and 
the central southern coast of Choiseul between Moli, Posarae and 
Sasamunga. Due to continued aftershocks, Gizo residents remain in the 
high ground and are afraid of returning to their homes. A landslide 
affected Tambala village in Ranongga, displacing its population to the 
high ground.

3. Several Agencies deployed to tsunami-affected areas inform that a 
full estimate of the deathtoll, displacement, material damage and 
humanitarian needs has not been completed yet.

4. UNICEF and WHO report the access to water in Gizo town as very poor. 
Many water tanks have been destroyed and fire trucks are being use to 
deliver water to the affected populations. A significant numbers of 
water containers and water purification tablets have already been 
distributed. Poor sanitation conditions in some IDP camps result in 
increase number of diarrhoea cases. Increase in malaria cases has also 
been recorded. Rehabilitation of the Gizo hospital may be delayed due to 
considerable Tsunami damage. Munda Health Center has been used as a 
triage center before transferring patients to Taro Health Center and 
Honiara Hospital.

5. Food stocks in Gizo are reported to be adequate only for two more 
days; there is only a limited supply of fresh food at the Gizo market.

6. According to UNICEF staff, immediate needs include food, shelter, 
clothes, medicines, mosquito nets, water tanks, water, trauma 
counselling, re-supplying of damaged clinics, assistance to schools to 
re-start classes, as well as water and sanitation assessment on other 
islands. Psychosocial support to the tsunami victims remains a gap.

7. Due to increasing number of relief actors present in the Solomon 
Islands, coordination of assessments and sharing of assessment 
information is becoming increasingly important.

8. According to UNDSS, security situation throughout the Solomon Islands 
is reported as calm and normal. Provision of security for relief 
supplies remains a challenge.

9. NDMO is in the process of identifying long-term assistance needs. 
Requirements identified to-date include: housing reconstruction, 
rehabilitation of the Gizo Town hospital, assisting the local 
communities in making new fishing canoes, and capacity building at the 
community level.

10. Update on the airstrips: Taro airstrip reported open but not long 
enough for C130 or CASA -235. Balalae airstrip is open for DHC-9 Twin 
Otter. Barakoma airstrip remains closed.

II. NATIONAL RESPONSE

11. The National Disaster Council (NDC) met twice on 6 April; the 
Solomon Islands Cabinet was briefed on the developing situation. A 
coordination meeting was held in the morning hours, where the national 
and international stakeholders discussed the need for joint reporting 
and coordinated assessments of affected areas.

12. The Solomon Islands Government dispatched several motorboats to 
provide relief supplies to remote islands and villages. MV "Liofagu", 
chartered by NDC, is to provide relief supplies (soap, mattresses, 
tarpaulins, food, jerrycans, cooking utensils, water tanks and tents) to 
the areas of Choiseul islands between Wagina and Taro. Another vessel is 
to reach the Shortland Islands with food, water and jerrycans. MV "East 
Bauro" is heading for Gizo, Vella La Vella, Ranongga and Simbo with 
water, jerrycans and medical supplies. Landing Craft "Jerijih" is 
expected to reach Gizo and Munda with various relief supplies, vehicles 
and fuel.

13. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has moved to the affected areas 
considerable quantities of supplies and medicines, provided by 
international organizations and the Government of Solomon Islands. MOH 
is stepping up measures prevent communicable diseases by distributing 
booklets and raising awareness among the local communities.

14. SIPF (Solomon Islands Police Force) and PPF (Participating Police 
Force) conducted assessments of several locations by boat and 
helicopter. A Ministry of Health (MoH) assessment team, funded by 
AusAID, was sent on a two-day reconnaissance .

III. INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

15. The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team 
agreed with the NDC Director on the scope of its activities. The UNDAC 
team will:

a) coordinate and monitor assessment reporting to promote clarification 
of an overall picture of the impact of the tsunami,

b) establish an Airport reception centre ? the point was established on 
6 April to register and track of incoming relief teams and provide them 
with operational briefings; a WFP staff arrived in Honiara on 6 April to 
support UNDAC in coordination and information management on logistics 
relief issues and coordination of air assets for relief deployment and 
distribution.

c) establish a UN coordination point within the National Disaster 
Management Office (NDMO) Headquarters to coordinate with the 
international stakeholders; it will be staffed with UNDAC and TSF 
(Telecoms San Frontiers) personnel,

d) establish a sub-coordination point in Gizo to coordinate with 
assessment teams and relief agencies in the field,

e) provide guidance to the Solomon Islands Government on transitioning 
from response to recovery.

16. Three NDMO officers and two UNDAC staff were deployed to Gizo to 
establish a sub-UN coordination point in the main relief hub in the 
tsunami-affected areas. The team will manage the coordination of relief 
and report back to Honiara on a regular basis. The joint UN-Government 
team is supported by TSF telecommunications specialist.

17. The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat pledged USD 12,000 from its 
Regional Natural Disaster Relief Funds while the Government of Fiji 
released an emergency cash grant of USD 25,000. USA pledged USD 250,000 
in bilateral emergency relief. Germany committed USD 37,250. SOPAC, the 
Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission, is to provide technical 
assistance. ADB is to dispatch assessment personnel.

18. UNICEF through its emergency appeal raised to-date USD 250,000 out 
of 500,000 sought. UNFPA has dispatched in-kind assistance in form of 
sanitation kits for women and girls and emergency birth kits. UNICEF and 
WHO are working with the MOH to prepare measles immunization campaign. 
WHO reports that medical teams are arriving from Taiwan, Australia and 
the USA, with additional international teams coming as volunteers.

19. International relief flights: An Australian C-130 Hercules made two 
rotations to Munda; French CASA-235 from New Caledonia made two 
rotations to Gizo to deliver 800kg of medical supplies, 8,000 mosquito 
nets, rice, two water treatment systems, baby milk, blankets and 
tarpaulins. More relief items at expected to arrive on 7 April in 
Honiara onboard of Boeing 767 from Malaysia and Boeing 737 from Japan. 
The latter flight will carry emergency supplies valued Yen 13 million 
(approx. USD 110,000).

20. NZAID provided on a bilateral basis 1,000 tarpaulins, 1,000 water 
tanks, 100 kitchen sets, health personnel and air transportation to 
Munda. AusAID, upon the request of Ministry of Health, dispatched 
mosquito up to 30 sets of tents and camp supplies, 100 ration packs and 
100 mosquito nets.

21. Save the Children delivered to Honiara 600,000 water purifying 
tablets and ten portable water purification systems. World Vision 
dispatched soap and 17,000 water purification tablets. The Catholic 
Church chartered a ship to allow Honiara residents provide assistance to 
their families in Ranongga and Simbo. New Zealand Red Cross pledged 100 
kitchen sets and other supplies.

22. ADRA Australia undertook a helicopter assessment of south Choiseul. 
Its team will be based at Kukundu, Kolombangara in the local school 
building.

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 based in Honiara:

Joanne Laurence (UNDAC team leader) Tel. +677 88716
Winston Chang (deputy team leader) Tel. +67788717
E-mail: changw@un.org
UN coordination point at NDMO HQ Land line : +677 27051

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

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International              web: www.cidi.org
    Disaster Information          listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                                guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -