Cyclone Winston Response and Recovery Project in Fiji Project
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UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME PROJECT DOCUMENT [Country: Fiji] Project Title: Cyclone Winston Response and Recovery project in Fiji Project Number: 00094807 Implementing Partner: UNDP (Direct Implementation) Start Date: 17 Mar 2016 End Date: 31 Mar 2017 PAC Meeting date: Brief Description On 20 and 21 February 2016 Category 5 Severe Tropical Cyclone (TC) Winston cut a path of destruction across Fiji’s islands blowing off roofs, bringing down trees and power lines, and flooding rivers. Up to 350,000 people (170,000 female and 180,000 male) have been affected by the cyclone, 40% of Fiji’s population. The Government estimates the cost of damage will top FJD1 billion (USD500 million). UNDP, in coordination with the Government and other partners, is assisting the early recovery with a strong focus on transition to the recovery process that lays a foundation for inclusive and sustainable development. From the preliminary assessments undertaken in various sectors, it is known that infrastructure in islands are damaged, at least 24,000 houses are partially or fully destroyed. Damages to agriculture has been estimated at around USD57 million with 100% of crops destroyed in the worst affected areas. It is expected that the Fiji Government will conduct a PDNA which will assess the medium to long-term recovery needs and inform a national recovery plan/framework. UNDP will support the government to conduct the assessment and develop the recovery plan/framework and assist, if requested by the Government with the subsequent implementation. Based on availability of funds, the current project document will be revised to include long term recovery needs that will be identified through the PDNA. The project is designed around three components: 1. Debris and Waste Management and Community Infrastructure Rehabilitation 2. Livelihoods Recovery including food security, and 3. Strengthening local capacities to integrate disaster risk reduction into recovery and enhancing community capacities for disaster preparedness This project document is designed to be able to start the urgently needed debris management, including clearance, and livelihood recovery, with already secured funding. Results of PDNA and the Government’s recovery framework may lead to a revised document in due time. Contributing Outcome (UNDAF/CPD, RPD or GPD): Total resources USD480,060 Sub-Regional Programme Document for PICs 2013- required: 2017, Outcomes 1 and 4 Total resources allocated: UNDP BPPS: 250,000 Indicative Output(s): CERF 124,174 Donor: Government: In-Kind: 105,886 Unfunded: - Agreed by (signatures): Government UNDP Minister for Agriculture Resident Representative Print Name: Inia Seruiratu, Print Name: Osnat Lubrani Date: Date: 1 I. DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE (1/4 PAGE – 2 PAGES RECOMMENDED) On 20 and 21 February 2016 Category 5 Severe Tropical Cyclone (TC) Winston cut a path of destruction across Fiji’s islands blowing off roofs, bringing down trees and power lines, and flooding rivers. At its peak, the Cyclone was estimated by the Fiji Met Service to have sustained winds of 230 kmph, gusting to 325 kmph making it one of the most severe cyclones ever to hit the South Pacific. The cyclone was so strong that it destroyed weather data loggers in many affected areas. According to the most recent reports from the Fiji Government, up to 350,000 people (170,000 female and 180,000 male) have been affected by the cyclone, which is approximately 40% of the country’s population. These figures include 120,000 children under the age of 18 (58,000 female and 62,000 male) and more than 3,100 people with disabilities. Confirmed fatalities stand at 44. The Government estimates the cost of damage will top FJD1 billion (USD500 million). The Cyclone caused widespread damage in all four divisions of the country – Eastern, Northern, Western and Central. The hardest hit areas are the Lau group and Lomaiviti groups in the Eastern Division, Rakiraki and Tavua in Western Division, Taveuni and Cakaudrove in Northern Division. While comprehensive damage data is still being collected, the Government’s initial reports indicate varying levels of destruction, with up to 100 per cent of buildings destroyed on some smaller islands. Based on evacuation centre figures and currently available damage data, approximately 24,000 houses have been damaged or destroyed, 100% in Koro and 67% in Tavua. The impact of TC Winston has been most acute in those communities already struggling with the effects of El Niño. Over the past year, El Niño-related drought has severely affected food production and access to fresh water, predominately in the Northern and Western Divisions. Of the 67,000 people targeted with water deliveries by the end of January, the vast majority live in the corridor most affected by the cyclone. In the Western Division, the sugar production had already severely impacted by El Niño, and TC Winston further decimated sugar cane crop with likely significant financial implications for the Fijian sugar industry. Over half of Fiji’s population live in the rural areas and isolated islands, and are highly reliant on subsistence farming for food security and livelihoods. This is particularly true of many of the badly- affected areas. The destruction of food gardens and loss of livestock has left many households with no alternative food source. Based on preliminary assessments of damage to food trees and plantations, Government advises that planting needs to start immediately to avoid critical food shortage and starvation. Damage to these plantations has destroyed the main source of livelihoods for the rural population. Women are among the most affected, given that they are more likely to already be living in poverty, have more precarious income sources, and shoulder a disproportionate burden of family care responsibilities. The Ministry of Agriculture’s crop and livestock damages assessment estimated a total damage of FJD120 million (USD57 million), 94% to crops and 6% to infrastructure and livestock. Cash crops such as Yagona, cassava and taro have been significantly impacted, while livestock impact have been mostly on small holder poultry, daily cattle and honey production. Stakeholders have raised concerns that fishing gear and boats are urgently needed by affected population drawing their livelihoods from fishing activities. Gaps not yet addressed in the agriculture sector include rehabilitation of drainage and feeder roads. Relatively few agencies responding in the shelter sector and relief items are only now beginning to arrive for distribution.1 Government and International Response: 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 1 OCHA, Fiji: Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston, Situation Report No. 16 (as of 11 March 2016) 2 Natural Disaster has been declared. The following government-led clusters are currently operating2, tasked with identifying specific needs and working in cooperation with international and national partners to ensure gaps are covered and are brought together for overall oversight and direction in the Coordination Cluster: Education Food Security Health Logistics Public Works and Utilities Safety and Protection Shelter Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Coordination Flash Appeal: The Flash Appeal “Emergency Response Plan for Fiji Tropical Cyclone Winston” was launched on Friday 4 March. Early recovery activities are designed to complement life-saving interventions and will enable the restoration of livelihoods of affected populations. UNDP, based on its several successful similar response projects in Asia and the Pacific, as well as a large needs elaborated herewith, submitted total USD1.1 million proposals to the Flash Appeal on (1) debris and waste management, including debris clearance of farming land and (2) community infrastructure rehabilitation especially during the initial 3 months. With an estimated 500,000 tons of debris over all the 123 priority (worst hit) geographical areas, UNDP’s interventions on debris management and community infrastructure restoration are critical to facilitate recovery in other sectors. Early Recovery: In Fiji national cluster system, Early Recovery cluster has not been established. The Government has informally advised UNDP that there might be an early recovery cluster established with the NDMO as the government lead, but this is still to be confirmed. Meanwhile, UNDP is taking a lead of Early Recovery cluster within Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT) and ensured Early Recovery is included in the Flash Appeal. Currently, UNDP is liaising with the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development, the Ministry of Strategic Planning, National Development and logistics and the NDMO and is working with ISDR, UNHABITAT, UNICEF, WHO, WFP, UNFPA, UNOHCHR, UNAIDS, ILO, UN-Women, UNV and FAO as well as the European Union, Asian Development Bank and the World Bank on the long term recovery planning. Initial Assessments and Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA): District Emergency Operations Centres deployed their teams to undertake Initial Damage Assessment (IDA). On a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment, the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, EU and the UN have started initial discussion with the Government of Fiji. The Secretariat for Pacific Community (SPC) has started preliminary preparation. The Government of Fiji has experience in conducting PDNA and several