OCHA Situation Report No. 6
South Pacific: Tsunami
8 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 02 April. (2040 GMT 01 
April). The earthquake created a tsunami causing casualties and 
significant damage in the Solomon Islands.

2. Casualty estimates reported by the Government of the Solomon Islands 
(GoSI) and the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) remain at 
25-28 (some sources estimating up to 34), with approximately half of the 
100,000 population of Western and Choiseul provinces affected. Reported 
injuries do not seem to be rising, according to sources in Gizo. The 
GoSI figures for the displaced in the worst affected areas remain at 
around 5,500 people, with an estimated 1,500 currently located in 12 
spontaneous camps in the vicinity of Gizo town. WHO reports 3000 IDPs in 
Sasamuga.

3. According to WHO, the health Center in Gizo is currently not 
functioning. The Gizo airport is operational and serves as a hub for 
stocking and distribution of supplies.

4. Assessment of eleven villages in Simbo and Rarongga islands, 
conducted on 3-5 April by the RAMSI police force, revealed that some 
communities were heavily affected by earthquake, tsunami and/or 
landslides. Tapurau village in north-western Simbo has had all of its 50 
houses destroyed. Several villages in the Rarongga island, including 
Mondo, Lale, Keara, Koriovuku and Saebuke, had suffered significant 
damage; some of those communities had majority of their houses 
destroyed. In several villages, crops have been either destroyed by 
tsunami or landslides. Water supply is a general concern as the 
earthquake has damaged pipes and valves. As in other areas, villagers 
often remain in high ground and are afraid of returning home.

5. The tsunami has affected the remotest part of the Solomon Islands 
where communications and access always have been a challenge. These 
factors, combined with the loss of entire communication system in some 
areas, hinder completion of a comprehensive damage assessment.

II. NATIONAL RESPONSE

6. The main priority of the NDMO is to stabilize the affected 
populations. Shortlands, Choiseul, Rendova, Vella Le Vella, and the 
Simbo Islands have been designated as priority for provision of relief 
supplies. The NDMO and relief agencies recognize the need for greater 
coordination in assessment and information management, and shared 
resources.

7. NDMO undertakes food distribution to the affected areas, coordinated 
by the Red Cross. The Chinese community of Honiara donated 1000kg of 
rice to the population of Gizo.

III. INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

8. The UNDAC team is now working in two locations:

- Honiara (3 UNDAC members, 1 staff of TSF, 1 of IOM, 2 of WFP), 1 NDMO 
liaison officer.

- Gizo: 3 UNDAC members and 1 staff of TSF are tasked with establishing 
a joint UNDAC-NDMO coordination hub in the offices of the Provincial 
Disaster Council.

9. Richard Dictus, the UN Resident Coordinator (based in Fiji), is to 
arrive in Honiara on 08 April. It is intended that the RC will meet with 
GoSI, the NDC and NDMO.

10. Airport Reception Centre, staffed by UNDAC and NDMO, is to receive 
and register new agencies incoming from the region. Registrations on 7 
April included a two-person Red Cross team bringing medical relief 
supplies from Tonga.

11. In Honiara, the UNDAC Team and the relief agencies agreed on generic 
impact assessment form and dissemination of national situation reports. 
The next general coordination meeting is planned for Monday 09 April.

12. In Gizo, regular coordination meetings with relief stakeholders 
(NZAid, AusAID, RAMSI, WVI, SCF, Salvation Army, IFRC, Solomon Islands 
Red Cross (SIRC)) are taking place twice daily, at 0800hrs and 1800hrs. 
Separate WatSan sectoral meetings are being held. Urgent priorities and 
concerns identified by the relief agencies in Gizo include: a) collation 
of all assessment data by COB 08 April, b) addressing shortages in water 
supply, c) improving tracking of relief assets, d) coordinating 
deployment of staff and new relief supplies, e) encouraging the public 
to return to their homes in the coming days, f) improving security for 
warehouses and relief distribution points. Joint UNDAC-NDMO field 
coordination held an ad-hoc press briefing in Gizo.

13. UNICEF is deploying more staff to the Solomon Islands. Two water and 
sanitation experts and a nutritionist are en route to Gizo to support 
the GoSI relief efforts. UNICEF's Emergencies Officer from Suva is 
coordinating with the ministries in Honiara and will be supported by 
emergency education and child protection officers, due to arrive in 
Tuesday.

14. NZAID air movement team will be based in Honiara to assist in 
handling the supplies from larger to smaller aircrafts. NZAID support 
staff may also be deployed to Munda and Gizo. NZ Air Force C-130 
Hercules brought water tanks, tents, tarpaulins and 1500kg of rice to 
Munda. AusAID assistance focuses on health: a health assessment team is 
currently assessing Gizo and Munda; several Australian doctors are 
working in Gizo, Sasamunga, Targo and Munda. Japan's in-kind donation of 
4,000 blankets and 50 rolls of plastic sheeting will arrive in Honiara 
on 08 April onboard of a Boeing 737. Taiwan supported the GoSI with 1.5 
million Solomon Islands Dollars (SBD), mobilized a technical team and 
donated 1000kg of rice to the SIRC. A Taiwanese three-member medical 
team is to arrive in Gizo on 08 April.

15. IFRC is providing 5000 hygiene kits, 5000 mosquito nets, 1000 
tarpaulins and 250 large tents for community use, as all SIRC stocks 
were distributed on the first day after the tsunami. World Vision's 
Gizo-based staff undertakes assessment of remote villages. The NGO sent 
500 family kits, basic tools and 11 water tanks to Gizo. Oxfam deployed 
two staff to undertake assessments.

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

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

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