UNICEF Weekly Situation Report Solomon Islands - Earthquake and Tsunami 6-8 February 2013

Transcription

1 UNICEF Weekly Situation Report Solomon Islands - Earthquake and Tsunami 6-8 February 2013 Reporting period 6-8 February 2013 Highlights Initial reports indicate that 431 houses have been damaged or destroyed in Temotu Province, leaving 3,500 people displaced Six people are reported dead (mainly elderly and young) and four people remain missing The water supply in Lata, the provincial capital of Temotu Province has been damaged, affecting more than 2,300 people The National Disaster Management Office has deployed two boats to the area carrying relief supplies, assessment and medical personnel Situation Overview On 6 February 2013 at 12:12pm, a strong earthquake at 8.0 magnitude struck off the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, triggering a tsunami. A tsunami warning was issued for five provinces (Temotu, Malaita, Makira-Ulawa, Central and Guadalcanal). Santa Cruz Island in Temotu province was hit with 1.5m waves roaring into the Island. Initial reports indicate that 431 houses have been damaged or destroyed in Temotu Province, displacing up to 3,500 people. With a formal assessment yet to begin, this number is expected to rise. Six people have been reported dead and four people remain missing, including a child who was swept into the sea. It is expected that the number of confirmed fatalities will increase in the coming days. The airport in Lata, the provincial capital of Temuto Province, has been closed with debris on the runway that will require heavy machinery to move. The National Disaster Management Office has deployed a patrol boat to the area carrying relief supplies, along with assessment and medical personnel. Given the remote location of Temotu Province, it will take up to two days for the patrol boat to arrive. Makira-Ulawa and Malaita Provinces were also affected, with high swells and unusual wave and current activity reported. At this stage, no damages or humanitarian needs have been identified in these two provinces. In addition to damages caused in Solomon Islands, tsunami waves were reported in Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Japan. In Vanuatu, a small tsunami wave was reported to have caused minor damage to a house and church in the Maskelyne Islands, located off the southern tip of Vanuatu s second largest island, Malekula. 1

2 Humanitarian Needs Shelter Initial reports indicate that 431 houses in Temotu Province have been damaged or destroyed. Up to 3,500 people have been displaced, some of whom are being accommodated by relatives, friends, or at schools or churches. It is thought that some may remain without any shelter at all. The National Disaster Management Office has identified a need for shelter supplies. Health Health services were disrupted, patients have been moved to higher ground Coastal clinics could be damaged; unconfirmed damage reported to Manoputi clinic. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Access to Clean, Safe Water: The Solomon Islands Red Cross Society reports that water supply in Lata is significantly damaged, affecting more than 2,300 people. Debris and logs have flooded into the water source. Salt water has inundated water sources. Widespread contamination and destruction to wells. Many water tanks have been destroyed or displaced. Bore holes have been covered or contaminated. The National Disaster Management Office has identified drinking water, water purification systems and water purification tablets as an urgent need. Access to Sanitation: Toilets were destroyed. Education Venga Primary School (4 buildings destroyed) and Early Childhood Education classroom was destroyed. The school is currently closed. Nutrition Home gardens of many families were destroyed Nutrition needs yet to be assessed in cross-sectroral NDMO and inter-agency assessment team. Child Protection Many families lost their houses and stay in temporary shelters. Children stay with their families or relatives. Specific Child Protection needs are yet to be assessed in crosssectoral NDMO and inter-agency assessment team. Inter-Agency Collaboration/Cluster Leadership and Key Partnerships The National Emergency Operations Centre has been activated since the night of 6 February The Provincial Emergency Operations Centres in Temotu Province and Makira-Ulawa Province have been activated and are providing updates to the National Emergency Operations Centre. Mailaita Province communities were also encouraged to provide updated information to National and Provincial Emergency Operation Centres. The National Disaster Management Office is working on the dissemination of prepositioned emergency supplies to affected populations with a number of NGOs, Solomon Islands Red Cross Society and United Nations, including UNICEF. 2

3 / Solomon Islands Field Office will be supporting government clusters with cluster-co lead responsibilities for technical areas in Education, WASH, Health & Nutrition, and Child Protection. The OCHA Regional Office for the Pacific will deploy an Information Management Officer to Solomon Islands on 9 February to provide support with mapping and assessments. UNICEF Response The UNICEF Field Office in Solomon Islands has activated emergency response and released pre-positioned emergency items. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene UNICEF provided 350 WASH kits (containing 2x10 liter container, purification tablets, soap), 100 tarpaulins (4x5m), 20 tents (24 m2), 6 packs of 50 purification tablets to provide clean drinking water for a family of 6 persons for several weeks. Expected to arrive in Lata is late 9 February. Health WASH cluster committee discussed the needs for supply of water, water carrying tools and dispatched an early response and assessment team including medical personnel, two WASH engineers and support personnel. Child Protection Social Welfare and IDP Cluster Committee will join one join the NDMO coordinated Inter-Sector Needs Assessment Team. Due to still on-going earthquakes and aftershocks, UNICEF Child Protection staff was not able to join the assessment team on the boat. Access to flights is limited. Education Education cluster committee will organize a meeting on 8 February and develop an action plan after initial assessment is received. Health The Solomon Islands Government will deploy medical personnel on the police boat leaving for Temotu 8 February, arriving tomorrow evening. Nutrition Nutrition needs yet to be identified by cross-sectoral assessment team and response to response interventions to be tailored accordingly. 3

4 Supply and Logistics Latest UNICEF emergency supply figures are as follows: Items Prepositioned in Honiara Water cont, PVC/PE,10l,collaps.,w/logo- NW 49 Water cont,pvc/pe,10l,collaps.,w/logo- NW 1,800 Water cont,pvc/pe,10l,collaps.,w/o logo 1,200 Handed to NDMO over Distributed to affected populations Water purif.(nadcc) 33mg tabs/pac School-in-a-box kit for 80 students 5 Box,metal,lockable,for storage,stackable 30 Recreation kit 3 Water tank,collapsible,1500l,w/dist.kit 5 Tent,rectangular,80m² 4 Tent,rectangular,24m² Tarpaulin,reinforc.,plastic,sheet,4x5m HP Yamaha Outboard motor with accessor 2 Tent,rectangular,80m² 1 WASH kits (2 collapsible containers, two soaps, one packets of purification tablet) Human Resources and Surge Capacity The earthquake and tsunami is localised in one province and this emergency can be handled within UNICEF SI Team with support from UNICEF-Pacific office in Fiji. Media and Communication Key spokesperson is Ms. Isabelle Austin, Deputy Representative who speaks English and French. For any interviews, please contact Ms. Donna Hoerder, Communications Specialist External Relations, Funding Funding for emergency supplies replenishment and related costs may be required at a later stage. 4

5 Next steps Key areas of interventions planned: Cluster committees will develop their action plans after receipt of information from Initial Assessment teams who were sent to Santa Cruz on 7 February. UNICEF will closely monitor situation and participate in existing NDMO led coordination arrangements and relevant cluster committee meetings. Date of next SitRep : Monday 11 Feb 2013 For further information please contact Dr Isiye Ndombi Representative Facsimile: indombi@unicef.org Isabelle Austin Deputy Representative Facsimile: iaustin@unicef.org Kang Yun Jong Chief, Field Office - Solomon Islands Phone : /2 (w), (direct line) Yjkang.unicef@gmail.com Dijana Duric Emergency Specialist Phone: Facsimile: dduric@unicef.org Samantha Cocco-Klein Chief, PAPE Facsimile: scoccoklein@unicef.org 5