DOCSLIB.ORG

University of Auckland Research Repository, Researchspace

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
University of Auckland Research Repository, Researchspace Libraries and Learning Services University of Auckland Research Repository, ResearchSpace Copyright Statement The digital copy of this thesis is protected by the Copyright Act 1994 (New Zealand). This thesis may be consulted by you, provided you comply with the provisions of the Act and the following conditions of use: • Any use you make of these documents or images must be for research or private study purposes only, and you may not make them available to any other person. • Authors control the copyright of their thesis. You will recognize the author's right to be identified as the author of this thesis, and due acknowledgement will be made to the author where appropriate. • You will obtain the author's permission before publishing any material from their thesis. General copyright and disclaimer In addition to the above conditions, authors give their consent for the digital copy of their work to be used subject to the conditions specified on the Library Thesis Consent Form and Deposit Licence. Community Participation and NGO Responses to the April 2014 Floods in Solomon Islands Carl Adams A thesis submitted in complete fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Development Studies, The University of Auckland, 2016. P a g e | I Abstract Floods are the most common form of natural disasters globally, disproportionately impacting lower income countries and in many cases the poorest citizens therein. The increasing frequency and intensity of floods present civil society, policymakers, and development practitioners the challenge of reducing disaster risk, and populations’ vulnerability to extreme weather events. This thesis explores the roles of affected communities in Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) responses to disaster in Solomon Islands, based on the experience of the 2014 flash floods. It investigates the extent to which communities were consulted and participated in NGO responses, and the factors which inform community-NGO relationships. It explores ways that communities interpret and respond to disasters, identifying factors that assist and constrain stakeholders in disaster response and recovery. The research is a qualitative case study, employing interviews, focus groups and document analysis. It is guided by a reflexive discourse analysis and narrative inquiry approach, which places the focus of the study on the experiences of participants. It finds that communities played very limited roles in NGO responses, especially non-dominant or marginalised sectors of society, such as youth, women, and people with disabilities. It indicates that failure to respond appropriately to the differentiated needs of affected populations can exacerbate their risk of experiencing secondary disaster. This thesis argues that there is a need to improve the inclusiveness of responses to disaster, engaging women, youth, and people with disabilities in decision-making in order to respond more appropriately to their needs. Secondly, it identifies that the channelling of funds through Members of Parliament (MPs) in disaster response is undermining the National Disaster Management Office and contributing to increasing dependency and opportunism among affected populations. It also highlights improving policy making and planning as having the potential to improve responses to future disasters. P a g e | II Acknowledgements The completion of this thesis must be credited in large part to the many people whose direction, advice, support, and contributions have proved invaluable along the way. I would like to thank my supervisor, Professor Andreas Neef, for all your advice and guidance over the past year. You encouraged me to consistently aim higher and commit to achieving my goals. I am forever indebted to my family, who deserve a Nobel Prize in tolerance. You supported my aspirations and encouraged me even when the road ahead was unfamiliar. I stand on the shoulders of giants, to whom credit for this achievement belongs. I am thankful to my research assistants, Elisa Matahia, Patricia Kennedy and Jerry Tamonge. Your humour and wit (often at my expense) broke down barriers in the research process. I appreciate your support in coordinating and facilitating my fieldwork. I wish to express my gratitude to my fellow research Masters colleagues who kept a sense of humour when I had lost mine; I have valued the celebrations and commiserations we have shared on this journey. To my work colleagues at Tearfund, for reassuring and encouraging me over the past year, I am grateful. You exemplify many of the qualities and attributes to which I aspire. I would like to express my gratitude to the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, for financially supporting my fieldwork through provision of the New Zealand Aid Programme Field Research Award. Lastly, bikfala tagio lo ufala oketa partisipants wea help lo disfala research. This work would not have been possible without your involvement. You have shaped this research and will continue to shape my work going forward. I hope that this study may in some small way contribute to improving future disaster responses. P a g e | III Table of Contents List of Figures.............................................................................................................................. VI List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... VI List of Abbreviations .................................................................................................................. VII Chapter 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 Disaster in the ‘Hapi Isles’: Floods hit Solomon Islands ................................................................. 2 Research objective and research questions ................................................................................... 3 Stakeholders and relationships ...................................................................................................... 4 Chapter overview ........................................................................................................................... 6 Part I: SITUATING THE STUDY ....................................................................................................... 8 Chapter 2. Establishing place and space ........................................................................................ 8 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 8 People and place ............................................................................................................................ 8 Colonialism to independence ......................................................................................................... 9 ‘Tensions’: Conflict and regional intervention ............................................................................. 11 Extractive and subsistence economy ........................................................................................... 13 Foreign aid dependence ............................................................................................................... 14 Salience of a politics of patronage ............................................................................................... 16 Disasters experienced by case study communities ...................................................................... 17 Chapter 3. Situating disaster in Solomon Islands: A review of relevant literature ......................... 20 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 20 Towards a hopeful post-development ......................................................................................... 20 Oceanic experiences .................................................................................................................... 23 Kastom: a guiding epistemology .................................................................................................. 25 Legacies of colonialism ................................................................................................................. 26 Understanding how disasters are experienced............................................................................ 29 Post-Disaster Response ................................................................................................................ 30 Gendered discourses and practice ............................................................................................... 32 Communities in Disaster Response .............................................................................................. 34 Chapter 4. Research Methods and Approaches ........................................................................... 36 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 36 Research epistemology ................................................................................................................ 36 Methodological framework: Narrative Inquiry and Discourse Analysis ...................................... 37 Fieldwork .....................................................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • State of the Climate in 2015
    STATE OF THE CLIMATE IN 2015 Special Supplement to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society Vol. 97, No. 8, August 2016 severed during the storm, and four days after the Islands, on 28 June. Over the next couple of days, the storm nearly 60% of the nation’s inhabited islands system moved westward into the Australian region, remained cut off from the outside world. According where it was named a TC. Raquel then moved east- to UNESCO, 268 million U.S. dollars was required for ward into the South Pacific basin, where it weakened total recovery and rehabilitation of Vanuatu. into a tropical depression. On 4 July, the system The storm’s winds gradually slowed afterwards as moved south-westward and impacted the Solomon Pam tracked west of the Tafea Islands. However, the Islands with high wind gusts and heavy rain. Fiji Meteorological Service indicated that the TC’s pressure dropped farther to 896 hPa on 14 March. f. Tropical cyclone heat potential—G. J. Goni, J. A. Knaff, As Pam travelled farther south, the storm’s eye faded and I.-I. Lin away and Pam’s low-level circulation became dis- This section summarizes the previously described placed from its associated thunderstorms, indicating tropical cyclone (TC) basins from the standpoint of a rapid weakening phase. Later on 15 March, Pam en- tropical cyclone heat potential (TCHP) by focusing on tered a phase of extratropical transition and affected vertically integrated upper ocean temperature condi- northeast New Zealand and the Chatham Islands tions during the season for each basin with respect to with high winds, heavy rain, and rough seas.
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Disaster Statistical Review 2016: the Numbers and Trends
    Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) Annual Disaster Statistical Review 2016 The numbers and trends Debarati Guha-Sapir, Philippe Hoyois Pascaline Wallemacq and Regina Below Annual Disaster Statistical Review 2016 The numbers and trends Debarati Guha-Sapir Philippe Hoyois Pasacline Wallemacq and Regina Below Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) Institute of Health and Society (IRSS) Université catholique de Louvain – Brussels, Belgium Acknowledgements The data upon which this report is based on, is maintained through the long-term support of the US Agency for International Development’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA). We are grateful to Alexandria Williams for proofreading. We encourage the free use of the contents of this report with appropriate and full citation: “Guha-Sapir D, Hoyois Ph., Below. R. Annual Disaster Statistical Review 2016: The Numbers and Trends. Brussels: CRED; 2016.” This document is available on http://www.cred.be/sites/default/files/ADSR_2016.pdf October 2017 ii Annual Disaster Statistical Review 2016 – The numbers and trends About CRED The Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) has been active for more than 40 years in the fields of international disaster and conflict health studies. CRED promotes research, training and technical expertise on humanitarian emergencies - with a particular focus on relief, rehabilitation and development. It was established in Brussels in 1973 at the School of Public Health of the Catholic University of Louvain (UCL) as a non-profit institution with international status under Belgian law. In 1980, CRED became a World Health Organization (WHO) collaborating centre as part of the WHO’s Global Program for Emergency Preparedness and Response.
    [Show full text]
  • Hungry for Justice, Thirsty for Change CARITAS STATE of the ENVIRONMENT REPORT for OCEANIA 2016 Taveuni, Fiji
    Hungry for justice, thirsty for change CARITAS STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT FOR OCEANIA 2016 Wani Filipe ties climbing beans at Tutu Rural Training Centre, Taveuni, Fiji. CARITAS Hungry for justice, thirsty for change CARITAS STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT FOR OCEANIA 2016 Monū’ia ā ka ko kinautolu ‘oku fie kaia mo fie inua ki he mā’oni’oní, he ’e faka makona ‘a kinautolu. Ka hoa te hunga e hiakai ana, e hiainu ana ki te tika; ka mākona hoki rātou. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. MATTHEW/MATIU 5:6 FEAST OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI 4 October 2016 Tutu ana te puehu Stirring up the dust Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand Caritas Tonga Caritas Australia PO Box 12193 Catholic Diocese of GPO Box 9830 Thorndon, Wellington 6144 Tonga and Niue Sydney, NSW 2001 Aotearoa New Zealand PO Box 1, Vaololoa Australia www.caritas.org.nz Nuku’alofa, Tonga www.caritas.org.au © Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, Caritas Tonga and Caritas Australia Lead research and writing: Martin de Jong Writers and researchers: Amelia Ma’afu, Sarah Marland, Petra Wheatley Oversight and editing: Lisa Beech, Brendan Joyce Editing and proofing: Johanna Knox Design: Rose Miller Cover photo: Teriba of Nusabaruka, Gizo, Solomon Islands drinks water from a Caritas water project in response to the El Niño drought. The project had funding support from the New Zealand Aid Programme. Photo: Julianne Hickey. Staff assistance and photography: Crispin Anderlini, Cathy Bi, Dominic Boana, Nick Borthwick, Benjamin Breen, Nicole Clements, Sascha Costigan, Roger Ellis, Julianne Hickey, Stephanie Lalor, Mary Malagela, Mark Mitchell, Joe Moeono-Kolio, Patrice Moriarty, Paul O’Callaghan, Carl O’Sullivan, Anna Robertson-Bate, Murray Shearer, Joanna Viernes, Br Adrian Watson, Zachary Wone, Zhi Yan.
    [Show full text]
  • Solomon Island Election Results: 2014
    Solomon Island Election Results: 2014 Province Electorate Candidate Party Vote % Vote Winner Incumbent Central Province Nggela Bartholomew Parapolo Independent 2094 24.6% * Janet R Hatimoana United Democratic Party 1649 19.4% Frederick Noel Charles Douglas Independent 1346 15.8% Henry Zimbo Independent 1273 15.0% Mark Roboliu Kemakeza Independent 449 5.3% Philip Ashley Soboi Independent 403 4.7% Christian Salini People's Alliance Party 365 4.3% David Harper Independent 300 3.5% Elijah Taikole Independent 274 3.2% Stillwest Longden Kadere Party of Solomon Islands 143 1.7% Leonard Vetena Williams Independent 66 0.8% Ellison Bai Animamu Independent 53 0.6% David Kwan Independent 30 0.4% Isa'ac Kito Seko Independent 25 0.3% Rejected Votes 25 0.3% Nggela Total 8495 100.0% Russells/Savo Dickson Mua Panakitasi Independent 3189 52.8% * * Oliver Salopuka Kadere Party of Solomon Islands 1261 20.9% Allan Kemakeza United Democratic Party 1225 20.3% Aenasi Diosi Independent 136 2.2% Godfrey Narasia Solomon Islands People First Party 112 1.9% Leslie Norris Asad People's Alliance Party 60 1.0% Rejected Votes 17 0.3% Walter Ben Turasi Youth Owned Rural and Urban Party 16 0.3% Constantine Sekudo Independent 15 0.2% John Quan Independent 14 0.2% Russells/Savo Total 6045 100.0% Choiseul Province East Choiseul Mannaseh Sogavare Independent 1596 63.1% * * Ronald Pitamama Democratic Alliance Party 602 23.8% James Ron Kaboke Solomon Islands People First Party 320 12.6% Rejected Votes 12 0.5% East Choiseul Total 2530 100.0% North West Choiseul Connelly Sadakabatu
    [Show full text]
  • 1 WEDNESDAY 11 NOVEMBER 2015 the Speaker, Mr Ajilon Nasiu Took the Chair at 10.03 Am. Prayers. ATTENDANCE All Were Present With
    WEDNESDAY 11 NOVEMBER 2015 The Speaker, Mr Ajilon Nasiu took the Chair at 10.03 am. Prayers. ATTENDANCE All were present with the exception of the Ministers for Education & Human Resources Development; Fisheries & Marine Resources; Culture & Tourism; Women & Children Affairs; Foreign Affairs and External Trade; Mines, Energy and Mineral Resources and the Members for Savo/Russells; Ranogga/Simbo; North East Guadalcanal and North Guadalcanal. PRESENTATION OF PAPERS AND OF REPORTS The Solomon Islands Electricity Authority 2014 Annual Report. (National Parliament Paper No.13 of the 1st Session of the 10th Parliament) STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER Statement By the Prime Minister Civil Aviation Airport Contracts Hon MANASSEH SOGAVARE (Prime Minister): Thank you for giving me the opportunity to clear the air in relation to a news item that went out from the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation saying that the Prime Minister has direct vested interest on airport contracts which is the reason why the former Minister for Civil Aviation was reshuffled from that ministry. Since the allegation was directly against me and the news said to the effect that I denied it, I need to clear the air on the reason why certain decisions are taken when it comes to ministers of the crown. When it comes to the issue of reshuffling ministers, that matter is rightly the prerogative of the Prime Minister in consultation with party leaders. I have never taken any decision to reshuffle ministers on my own. The former minister is not here because I would like to have him here to listen to this. The reason for reshuffling is purely on non performance.
    [Show full text]
  • Minnesota Weathertalk 2015
    Minnesota WeatherTalk January-December 2015 Cold start to January Minnesota WeatherTalk, January 09, 2015 By Mark Seeley, University of Minnesota Extension Climatologist After a mild December (11th warmest since 1895 on a statewide basis), the other shoe dropped over the first full week of January, with temperatures averaging from 7 to 10 degrees F colder than average through the first seven days of the month, somewhat analogous to the start of January last year. Brimson (St Louis County) reported the coldest temperature in the nation on January 4th with -28F and on January 5th Togo (Itasca County) reported the coldest in the nation at -29F. In fact over the first week of the month a few records were set: • New low temperature records included: -28F at Thief River Falls on January 4th; and -28F at Grand Portage on January 5th • New cold maximum temperature records include: -7F at both Grand Marais and Grand Portage on January 5th; and -8F at Wright (Carlton County) also on January 5th • In addition a new daily precipitation record was set for January 3rd at International Falls with 0.58 inches (associated with 7.8" of snow) At least 45 Minnesota climate stations reported low temperatures of -20F or colder this week. The core of the cold air occurred over January 4-5 this week under high pressure. As a measure of the strength of the air mass, some climate stations reported extremely cold daytime highs. Temperatures rose no higher than -15F at Isabella and Kabetogama, and no higher than -16F at Sandy Lake Dam and Ely.
    [Show full text]
  • Natural Disasters and Trade Study I Acknowledgements
    Natural Disasters and Trade Study I Acknowledgements This report has been prepared as part The national authorities of Dominica, of WTO research conducted under the Fiji, Nepal, St Lucia, Tonga and Vanuatu responsibility of Shishir Priyadarshi, provided valuable support in facilitating Director, Development Division. Research country research, including through for the trade and natural disaster project interviews with the private sector. was managed by Michael Roberts, Our thanks also to all the persons Head, Aid for Trade Unit. The authors who agreed to be interviewed. Useful included Arne Klau (Trade Policy Review comments and inputs in the research Division), Ankai Xu (Economic Research work have also been received from the and Statistics Division) and Masahiko International Federation of the Red Haraguchi, Postdoctoral Fellow at Cross and Red Crescent, International the Belfer Center for Science and Telecommunications Union, Organization International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy of Eastern Caribbean States, Pacific School, Harvard University. Island Forum Secretariat, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Research inputs and written contributions Humanitarian Affairs, United Nations to this report were provided by Justine Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, United Lan, Rainer Lanz, Theo Mbise, Emmanuel Nations Environment Programme, World Orkoh, Wanjiku Waweru, Liliana Popescu, Customs Organization, World Bank Mario De Gortari Rangel, (Development Group. Division) and Robert Teh (Economic Research and Statistics Division). Country research, the organization of thematic Symposia and production of Several divisions at the WTO Secretariat the research reports was coordinated by provided valuable input and comments Barbara Marcetich, Vasanthi Saverimuttu, on the natural disasters research Staci-Marie Sydney and Julia Zamora project.
    [Show full text]
  • Press Review: Mining in the South Pacific
    Press review: Mining in the South Pacific Vol. 7, No. 4, July – August 2015, 99 pages Compilation: Dr. Roland Seib, Hobrechtstr. 28, 64285 Darmstadt, Germany http://www.roland-seib.de/mining.html Copyright: The material is copyrighted by the media and authors quoted. Abbreviations in common use: BCL: Bougainville Copper Limited LNG: Liquid Natural Gas PIR: Pacific Islands Report PNG: Papua New Guinea Websites: Pacific Islands Report: http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/graphics.shtml PNG Post-Courier: http://www.postcourier.com.pg PNG The National. http://www.thenational.com.pg ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Barrick closes $298m Porgera JV deal with Zijin By: Henry Lazenby Creamer, Mining Weekly, 31st August 2015 The world’s largest gold producer by output Barrick Gold on Monday announced that it had closed a deal forming a strategic partnership with Zijin Mining Group. The Chinese firm initially acquired a 50% interest in Barrick Niugini (BNL) for $298-million in cash. Proceeds from the transaction would be used to repay debt. Barrick had been dealing with high debt levels in a lower gold-price environment, selling various noncore assets to reduce its $12.9-billion in debt, having pledged to raise at least $3-billion for this purpose this year. Canada's Barrick was orchestrating a pull-back from operations in the southern hemisphere, having already sold four mines in Australia, as well as the Papua New Guinea (PNG) divestment. Last month, the company had also sold a 50% stake in the Zaldivar copper mine, in northern Chile, to Antofagasta for $1-billion. It had also earlier in Au- gust struck a precious-metals streaming deal with Royal Gold, which had agreed to make an upfront cash payment of $610-million plus continuing cash payments for gold and silver delivered under Barrick's 60% interest in the Pueblo Viejo mine, in the Dominican Republic.
    [Show full text]
  • Prime Minister Hon Rick Hou's 40Th Independence Speech Download
    Speech by the Honourable Prime Minister, Hon. Rick Houenipwela, MP Friday, 6th July, 2018 40th INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATIONS ___________________________________________________ “RE-DIRECTING OUR JOURNEY AT FORTY” __________________________________________________ Salutation Governor General of Solomon Islands His Excellency, Sir Frank Ofagioro Kabui and Lady Kabui; Hon. Speaker of Parliament – Hon. Ajilon Nasiu; Hon. Chief Justice – Sir Albert Rocky Palmer; Deputy Prime Minister – Hon. Manasseh Sogavare, MP; Ministers of the Crown; Leader of the Official Opposition – Hon. Manasseh Maelanga, MP; Leader of the Independents – Hon. Derrick Sikua, MP; Members of Parliament; Constitutional Post Holders; Commissioner of Police; Provincial Premiers and Members of Provincial Assemblies; 1 [Date] Mayor of Honiara City – Councillor Andrew Mua; Heads and Members of the Diplomatic Corps; Our Development Partners; Representative of Solomon Islands Christian Association; Chairman, Executive, and Members of the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce; Heads of Statutory Organizations; Church Leaders and Clergies; Senior Government Officials; Traditional Chiefs and Community Leaders; Fellow Solomon Islanders and Friends of Solomon Islands; Ladies and Gentlemen. Greetings Greetings and a Very Good Morning to each and every one of you present here today, at home and those listening in our villages throughout the provinces. Let me first take this opportunity to wish our people and our beloved country Solomon Islands a Happy 40th Independence Anniversary. I acknowledge that some of our people are not able to join us in our celebrations today for various reasons including those in our Hospitals, those incarcerated and our citizens abroad, our prayers and thoughts are with you. 2 [Date] As we celebrate this important milestone in our history, let us not forget those who started the process that brought us independence 40 years ago - the forefathers and mothers of our nation.
    [Show full text]
  • Solomon Islands EITI Comments on the Initial Assessment
    Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Validation of Solomon Islands Report on initial data collection and stakeholder consultation by the EITI International Secretariat 29 October 2016 1 2 Validation of Solomon Islands: Report on initial data collection and stakeholder consultation Abbreviations CBSI Central Bank of Solomon Islands DSE Development Services Exchange GCIL Gold Ridge Community Investment Limited GRML Gold Ridge Mine Limited IRD Internal Revenue Department MMERE Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification MoFT Ministry of Finance and Treasury MoU Memorandum of Understanding MSG Multi-stakeholder group OAG Office of the Auditor General OPMC Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet SIEINSG Solomon Islands Extractive Industries National Stakeholder Group SIEITI Solomon Islands Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative SIG Solomon Islands Government SMM Sumitomo Metals Mining TOR Terms of Reference VBMS Vois Blong Mere Solomon 3 Validation of Solomon Islands: Report on initial data collection and stakeholder consultation Contents Abbreviations ...................................................................................................................................................2 Contents...........................................................................................................................................................3 Executive Summary ..........................................................................................................................................4
    [Show full text]
  • The China Alternative
    THE CHINA ALTERNATIVE CHANGING REGIONAL ORDER IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS THE CHINA ALTERNATIVE CHANGING REGIONAL ORDER IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS EDITED BY GRAEME SMITH AND TERENCE WESLEY-SMITH PACIFIC SERIES Published by ANU Press The Australian National University Acton ACT 2601, Australia Email: [email protected] Available to download for free at press.anu.edu.au ISBN (print): 9781760464165 ISBN (online): 9781760464172 WorldCat (print): 1238049900 WorldCat (online): 1238049886 DOI: 10.22459/CA.2021 This title is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial- NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). The full licence terms are available at creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/legalcode Cover design and layout by ANU Press. Cover photograph: Shaun Gessler. This edition © 2021 ANU Press Contents Opening Remarks . vii Ralph Regenvanu and Dame Meg Taylor Introduction: The Return of Great Power Competition . 1 Terence Wesley-Smith and Graeme Smith 1 . Mapping the Blue Pacific in a Changing Regional Order . 41 Tarcisius Kabutaulaka 2 . A New Cold War? Implications for the Pacific Islands . 71 Terence Wesley-Smith 3 . Australia’s Response to China in the Pacific: From Alert to Alarmed . 107 Merriden Varrall 4 . China’s Impact on New Zealand Foreign Policy in the Pacific: The Pacific Reset . 143 Iati Iati 5 . Associations Freely Chosen: New Geopolitics in the North Pacific . 167 Gerard A . Finin 6 . Stable, Democratic and Western: China and French Colonialism in the Pacific . 197 Nic Maclellan 7 . A Reevaluation of China’s Engagement in the Pacific Islands . 233 Zhou Fangyin 8 . Domestic Political Reforms and China’s Diplomacy in the Pacific: The Case of Foreign Aid .
    [Show full text]
  • Global Catastrophe Recap July 2015
    Aon Benfield Analytics | Impact Forecasting Global Catastrophe Recap July 2015 Risk. Reinsurance. Human Resources. Aon Benfield Analytics | Impact Forecasting Table of Contents Executive Summary 3 United States 4 Remainder of North America 4 South America 5 Europe 5 Africa 5 Asia 5 Oceania 8 Appendix 9 Contact Information 14 Global Catastrophe Recap: July 2015 2 Aon Benfield Analytics | Impact Forecasting Executive Summary . Typhoon Chan-hom leaves USD1.5 billion economic loss in China . Seasonal monsoon rainfall causes more than USD2.0 billion in damages in Asia . U.S. severe thunderstorms cost the insurance industry at least USD325 million Typhoon Chan-hom tracked across much of the Western Pacific Ocean during the first half of July, and causing damage in China, Japan’s Okinawa Island chain, South Korea, Taiwan and Guam. At least six people died and more than 30 others were injured. The storm’s most significant impacts were registered in China, where more than 5,000 homes were damaged and destroyed after Chan-hom made landfall in Zhejiang Province. Agricultural interests and infrastructure sustained the brunt of the damage, with the Ministry of Civil Affairs citing more than CNY9.1 billion (USD1.5 billion) in economic damages. Total economic losses from Chan-hom in all impacted areas tallied at least USD1.6 billion. Additional landfalling tropical cyclones in Asia during the month included Typhoon Linfa and Super Typhoon Nangka. Linfa came ashore in the northern Philippines as a tropical storm before later strengthening and making multiple landfalls in southern China. Total economic losses were USD214 million. Nangka was much weakened as it made landfall on southern Japan’s Shikoku Island.
    [Show full text]