Highlights Situation Overview
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Fiji: Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston Situation Report No. 5 (as of 25 February 2016) This report is produced by the OCHA Regional Office for the Pacific (ROP) in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It covers the period from 24 to 25 February 2016. The next report will be issued on or around 26 February 2016. Highlights • On 20 and 21 February Category 5 Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston cut a path of destruction across Fiji. • The cyclone is estimated to be one of the most severe ever to hit the South Pacific. • The Fiji Government estimates almost 350,000 people living in the cyclone’s path could have been affected – 180,000 men and 170 000 women. • 41 people have been confirmed dead. • 131 people are injured. • Aid has begun arriving in cyclone affected communities, especially the hard hit outer islands and Rakiraki in the West. • Almost 50,000 people are currently sheltering in nearly 800 evacuation centres. • Damage to agriculture is estimated to be US$61 million with 100 per cent of crops destroyed in the worst affected areas. • At least 117 schools have been damaged • A 30 day State of Natural Disaster has been declared. 41 50,000 US $61m Confirmed fatalities People in in damage to evacuation centres agriculture Sit Rep Sources: Fiji Government, Fiji NEOC/NDMO, PHT Partners, NGO Community Situation Overview The scale of the task ahead is becoming clearer with the Fiji Government now estimating almost 350,000 people may have been affected by the cyclone, around a third of them children. Analysis of imagery produced from aerial surveillance flights has confirmed that the worst affected areas are: Northern Lau Group, the south and east coast of Taveuni, the south coast of Vanua Levu (Savusavu, Nasonisoni and Nabouwalu), Koro Island, Ovalau, Naigani and north east Viti Levu. Relief supplies, including food rations, are now starting to reach these areas through the coordinated efforts of National Clusters, NGOs, the Red Cross, and military assets from Fiji, Australia, France and New Zealand. Clusters are quickly developing a more detailed picture of needs and priorities as they fan out across the country to do assessments and distribute supplies. With almost 50,000 people now sheltering in hundreds of evacuation centres, there is a need for the development of an evacuation centre plan. The humanitarian community stands ready to guide the government in international best practice in evacuation centre management to ensure the protection, food, water, health and sanitation needs of displaced people are met. The Government is understandably anxious to see children urgently return to classrooms that are currently being used as evacuation centres but this will first require the provision of safe transitional accommodation for those currently sheltering there. Intermittent essential services, as well as poor road access and communications difficulties, remain a constraint for both assessments and the delivery of relief. The Pacific Humanitarian Team has highlighted the need for more detailed sex, age and disability disaggregated data to ensure the needs of vulnerable people are being addressed. www.unocha.org The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. Coordination Saves Lives Fiji Tropical Cyclone Winston | 2 General Coordination The Fiji Government is leading the response to this emergency. The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) is coordinating efforts and has activated the National and Divisional Emergency Operations Centres (EOCs). A 30 day State of Natural Disaster has been declared. The Fiji Government has established three levels of planning to guide their cyclone response – current operations, future operations, and planning and international coordination. National Clusters are identifying needs and are working in cooperation with international partners to ensure gaps are covered. Fiji disaster officials continue to deploy teams with supplies to affected communities across the country. All Fiji National Clusters are now activated and with meetings convened regularly by line ministry Cluster Coordinators. Assessments are either underway or being planned and collaboration with the international community is expanding. In recognition of the enormity of the disaster, the Fiji Government has officially requested international assistance. UNOCHA, on behalf of the Pacific Humanitarian Team, is liaising with the NDMO and Fiji National Clusters on what expertise, personnel, supplies and equipment are most urgently needed. OCHA also has personnel embedded in the NDMO and Minister’s office. In addition to its role in supporti ng coordination of humanitarian partners with the Fijian Government, OCHA is deploying a 15-person UN Disaster and Coordination (UNDAC) team to support emergency response. The UNDAC team will ensure the link between incoming international assistance and the Government-led response efforts and priorities. The team will set up coordination hubs in disaster-affected areas and provide support to needs assessments, information management and response coordination. The Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT) as well as new partners arriving in Fiji are requested to work through the existing Fijian cluster structure to allow for a coordinated and effective response. It has been agreed that UNOCHA will be the conduit for communications between the NDMO and international humanitarian partners regarding offers of assistance within Fiji and internationally. Resident Coordinator, Ms. Osnat Lubrani has officially been designated as Humanitarian Coordinator for Fiji, effective immediately. In this role, Ms Lubrani will lead the international response to Tropical Cyclone Winston, in support of the Government of Fiji. Overall Response Logistics and Telecommunications Needs • Communications with many affected areas remain interrupted, hampering efforts to get a clear picture of needs on the ground. Improved communications links and road access will improve this situation. • There is a need for greater clarity on the processes and rules surrounding the arrival of unsolicited donations and emergency relief consignments in Fiji in order to ensure an efficient distribution of goods. Response • The National Logistics Cluster is operating two main hubs in Lautoka (Nadi) and Walu Bay (Suva). • Nadi and Suva Airports are open and operating services. Local airports now operating include Kadavu, Labasa, Rotuma, Gau, Kadavu; and privately owned: Mago, Kaibu. • A C-130 arrived today at Nausori Airport from New Zealand carrying 10 tons of Non-food-items. This aircraft is rotating daily to Nausori from New Zealand until Sunday. • The New Zealand Government has two helicopters that will be providing support to the NDMO. • The HMNZS Canterbury will arrive mid-week. • The Australian government has four helicoptors in country to support the activites of the NDMO. An additional 3 helicopters are arriving on Her Majesty’s Air Ship Canberra in early March. • Import procedures have been clarified, guidance will be shared to partners through channels. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Coordination Saves Lives | www.unocha.org Fiji Tropical Cyclone Winston | 3 • The Minister of Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development and National Disaster Management has directed that all relief cargo must be consigned to the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) in order for it to be cleared by the Fiji Procurement Office (FPO) and processed via the Fiji Government stores management team. All donated goods for the relief response will qualify for duty and VAT exemption. • DFAT have deployed two rubhalls on the HMAS Canberra to provide additional warehouse capacity. • The Logistics Cluster has shared information on private sector transport and storage companies with partners. For company contact details, see the Fiji Logistics Capacity Assessment (LCA): http://dlca.logcluster.org/display/public/DLCA/Fiji • The Digicel link between Vanua Levu and Taveuni has been restored. • The Digicel network is now available in almost all parts of Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Kadavu Island, Gau • Island, Taveuni and Moala Island, as well as parts of the Yasawa and Mamanuca islands. Gaps and Constraints • While the system for the arrival of relief supplies in country is currently working for the limited air freight that is arriving so far, once items begin arriving in bulk by sea, this system may require review. • There remains a need to clarify management arrangements for unsolicited donations. Shelter Needs • In Central Division, two shelter assessment teams carried out 10 needs assessments of a total of 131 houses - 85 of these were completely destroyed, 32 sustained significant damage, 11 were partially damaged, and 3 had minor damages. This damage affected 634 people (324 men and 310 women). • In the Western Division, an assessment is currently ongoing in Nadi. • In the Eastern Division, an assessment is currently ongoing on Koro Island. Assessment data is being analysed. • The NDMO has warned that thousands of houses across Fiji may need to be demolished as a result of damage from TC Winston presenting significant shelter challenges over the months ahead. • 789 evacuation centres are active in all four divisions. • A total of 49,864 people are currently sheltering in these centres. Almost half of these displaced people are in Fiji’s West. • The Fiji