OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Papua New Guinea: Cyclone Guba
26 November 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

This report is based on information from UN Agencies, the Government of 
Papua New Guinea (GoPNG), and other responders and donors.

SITUATION

1. Category 1 Tropical Cyclone Guba struck Papua New Guinea 12-16 
November 2007, bringing torrential rains and high tides which have 
caused severe flooding in Oro and Milne Bay provinces in the east of the 
country. The Government of PNG reports that 145,000 people are affected 
in Sohe and Ijivitari districts and Popondetta Town in Oro Province 
alone, while the provincial Police report to date some 163 casualties, 
with at least 13,000 displaced. However, comprehensive and verified data 
is not yet available.

2. Oro province remains virtually cut off, with most access possible 
only by air or sea. The provincial capital, Popondetta, which has a 
population of 20,000, has no functioning source of potable water, after 
treatment plants and tanks were severely damaged. Numerous roads and 
bridges have been made impassable by landslides or washed away by 
floodwater, including the road to Oro airport. There are also reports of 
houses in some villages being washed away, as well as crops and 
livestock.

3. Aid is beginning to reach the affected areas, but provincial 
authorities have requested specific assistance with food (rationed in 
some areas), medical supplies and disease prevention efforts. UN 
agencies and NGOs have also highlighted urgent temporary shelter and 
watsan needs. Electricity generating capacity is currently greatly 
reduced and fuel supplies have also been affected.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

4. A State of Emergency was declared by the Government on 19 November, 
and Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare announced the immediate release of 
50 million PGK (18.5 million USD) to assist affected communities, in 
addition to 2.6 million USD made available directly to the Papua New 
Guinea National Disaster Centre (NDC), tasked with overall coordination 
of the Government response. 100,000 PGK has also been granted to Oro 
Provincial Administration for provision of emergency supplies.

5. NDC Emergency Operations Centres have been established in Port 
Moresby and Popondetta, and PNG military personnel and assets mobilized 
to support relief and rescue efforts. PNG Defence Force and Navy 
aircraft and vessels have been dispatched to the affected areas with 
relief supplies.

6. PNG Red Cross Society (PNGRCS) deployed skilled staff and volunteers 
to support Popondetta-based colleagues, and pre-positioned stocks of 
relief supplies including tarpaulins and water containers were shipped 
to Oro province on 20 November. The IFRC country delegation is providing 
ongoing support, including the allocation of DREF funds and liaison with 
other stakeholders.

7. GoPNG made a formal request to in-country NGOs, INGOs and diplomatic 
missions and humanitarian agencies today for additional assistance. This 
had been requested by some organizations in order to facilitate their 
mobilization of support, some of which is already en route or 
in-country.

COORDINATED IN-COUNTRY RESPONSE

8. A National Coordinating Committee for Cyclone Guba was also 
established by a decision of the National Disaster Committee of the 
Ministry of Inter-Government Relations on 21 November. This NCC is 
co-chaired by OCHA, and is meeting daily to coordinate between GoPNG, UN 
agencies, I/NGOs and the PNG Red Cross Society.

9. NCC members agreed to conduct a series of inter-agency assessment 
missions to the worst affected areas. These airborne missions began 
today, 22 November, and will continue over the next 2-3 days. 
Inter-agency teams will conduct village level assessments, focusing on 
overall priority needs, sectoral needs, and number of affected 
households.  Oxfam, Caritas, CARE Australia, Salvation Army, WHO and 
others are participating in this initiative with GoPNG partners. 
Resulting information is hoped to be available by 26 November.

10. Donors, NGO partners and OCHA have agreed to provide additional 
staff to support NDC coordination operations in Port Moresby (PoM). 
Strengthening of the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Popondetta was 
also designated a priority: a Controller from the PNG military has been 
appointed and he and other colleagues are now setting up in Popondetta. 
AusAID has deployed five in-country international staff to support the 
EOC, including logistics, medical and administrative officers.

11. NCC partners are already deploying staff, equipment and supplies to 
the affected areas, (PNG RCS shipping 700 tarpaulins, 800 water 
containers to Popondetta; Caritas is distributing food in Popondetta 
care centres; WHO is liaising with National Department of Health on 
despatch of basic medicines and supplies; UNICEF is awaiting clearance 
of emergency supplies stuck in PoM), while others have been awaiting 
reliable assessment data or formal GoPNG request to proceed with their 
assistance plans.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

12. OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) has maintained 
close contact with its country presence, and offered the UN RC 
additional assistance, including the option to mobilize the OCHA 
Emergency Cash Grant facility or apply for CERF funding. These are being 
considered by the UNRC and Country Team, but are unlikely to be 
requested while adequate resources are committed by GoPNG and other 
donors in-country, and until more detailed assessment data is available.

13. AusAID received a formal request for support on 21 November, and 
have since begun assessments using aircraft in-country. AusAID has 
already deployed staff and resources from regional bases to support the 
GoPNG response. The Australian Government announced that it is ready to 
assist and is now pursuing a clearer indication from the PNG Government 
of the extent of this disaster and what if any assistance might be 
required.

14. IFRC has allocated 22,400 USD from its Disaster Relief Emergency 
Fund (DREF) to respond to humanitarian needs and to replenish disaster 
preparedness stocks distributed to the affected population. Australian 
and French Red Cross teams also have emergency response WASH teams on 
standby.

15. USAID/OFDA announced that the United Sates has donated 50,000 USD 
via the Embassy in PoM for relief efforts through IFRC/PNG RCS.

16. NZAID has provided 100,000 NZ$ to PNG RCS from its regional 
emergency fund via the New Zealand Red Cross for provision of mosquito 
nets, tarpaulins, water containers and cooking utensils.

17. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing 
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA-managed ReliefWeb website at 
http://www.reliefweb.int.

For more information please contact:

OCHA Humanitarian Affairs Officer, Port Moresby
Mr. Antonio Massella
Tel. +675 68 61592
Tel: + 675 321-2877


Desk Officer:

(NYC) Mr. Wojtek Wilk
Tel. +1 917 367 5286


Press contact:

(NYC) Ms. Stephanie Bunker
Tel. +1 917 367 5126

(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs
Tel. +1 917 367 5126
Tel. +41 22 917 2653

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