Fiji• Tropical Cyclone Tomas Situation Report No. 3 Date: 22 March 2010 This report was issued by OCHA Sub-Regional Office for the Pacific in Fiji. I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES • According to assessment reports from the Fiji Red Cross Society (FRCS), a total of 433 houses were destroyed and 688 houses were damaged by Tropical Cyclone (TC) Tomas as of 22 March. At least 25 schools as well as several health facilities were also damaged, • Three deaths have been confirmed, including one on Rabi Island and two on Vanua Levu (two out of three deaths were due to drowning). • Relief operations and assessments led by the Fiji Government and FRCS are ongoing. All evacuation centers have now been closed. • FRCS estimates that over 4,000 households have been affected in one way or another by TC Tomas (partial damage to dwelling homes, crops and/or water supply). II. Situation Overview Tropical Cyclone (TC) Tomas, Category 4, battered the eastern parts of the Fiji Islands for two days from 14 March onwards. The main islands of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu were largely spared, but extensive damage was caused on the islands on its path in the eastern and northern division. A State of Emergency (“State of Natural Disaster”) was declared for the Northern Division and the Lomaiviti and Lau group in the Eastern Division on 16 March. Three deaths have been confirmed, including one on Rabi Island and two on Vanua Levu (two out of three deaths were due to drowning). All evacuation centres have now been closed. Government agencies, the Fiji Red Cross Society (FRCS) and other organizations have mobilized relief and assessment teams to reach remote areas and outer islands. The FRCS currently has eight assessment and relief teams on the ground, in addition to two teams working with the Ministry of Health on hygiene awareness and distribution of hygiene and first aid kits. FRCS estimates that the total affected population might be over 4,000 households (including partial damage to dwelling homes, crops and/or water supply). To date, the Government and its partners has reached more than 4,300 affected people have been reached so far. The FRCS is distributing various non-food items, such as cooking sets, water containers, tarpaulins, blankets, clothing, hygiene packs and other essential items. Australia plans to ship additional emergency relief items including tarpaulins, tents and blankets on 24 March. In addition, response teams are repairing communications, electricity and water systems. Several navy and commercial vessels have left for the Eastern division and Cikobia and Taveuni in the Northern division to support the response efforts. While basic needs are considered to be met by the Government and the FRCS, these efforts are being supported with the provision of WASH, shelter and other non-food items by donors, NGOs and UN agencies. The full extent of humanitarian needs will be known once assessments are completed. Preliminary assessment findings suggest that a large number of houses were destroyed. The FRCS damage assessment summary report shows that 433 houses were destroyed and 688 houses damaged. The figures of the Fiji National Disaster Management Office are lower with 369 houses destroyed and 184 houses damaged. More exact figures will become available as assessment reports come in. The Government and humanitarian actors have indicated that the recovery phase needs to start as soon as possible, with a comprehensive plan to address medium- and long term needs across sectors, as well as long term needs for rehabilitation, particularly in shelter. Habitat for Humanity Fiji is considering supporting the reconstruction of permanent housing for 245 families in Vanua Levu and Vanuabalavu depending on the availability of funds. III. Humanitarian Needs and Response Early Recovery • Fiji’s Budget and Aid Coordination Committee, chaired by the Ministry of Planning, will be coordinating the recovery process for TC Tomas and will be meeting for the first time on 23 March. Education • Schools in the Northern and Eastern divisions will be resuming classes this week. Those in Central and Western Divisions have already started. Tents will be used as temporary classrooms until damaged classrooms have been repaired or rebuilt. • The Fiji National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) reports that 25 schools have been damaged; NZAID reports that up to 72 classrooms have been either damaged or destroyed. • 200 tents from the New Zealand Red Cross will be provided to the most affected boarding schools in Udu, Namuka, Tawake, Dogotuki and Saqani areas. • The 10 tents provided by UNICEF (24 m2) have been transported to the Eastern Division on 21 March. • 45 large tents funded by the New Zealand Government arrived in Nadi on 21 March, which the NDMO has advised to use as temporary class rooms. Food and Nutrition • The Ministry of Agriculture is currently conducting assessments on agricultural damage. Preliminary information from the FRCS suggests that crops were completely destroyed on the Lau Islands of Vanuabalavu, Mago, Kanace and Cicia. The NDMO report suggests that the available food supply will last for one to two weeks only in Totoya, Vanuabalavu and Cicia Islands. It has been reported that food gardens were affected on Lomaiviti and Gau Island. • The Ministry of Agriculture has dispatched kumala cuttings and seeds to the Lau group and has distributed seeds to the Northern and Eastern Divisions. • Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Fiji will be handing over 600 food packs containing split peas, sugar, rice, crackers, canned tuna and powdered milk to the Government to support those needing food rations. • The Government has already provided emergency food supplies to 11 villages in Lau and Lomaiviti Provinces in the Eastern Division, as well as in Cakaudrove Province in Northern Division. • The Latter Day Saints (LDS) church provided food supplies for distribution by the Disaster Management Committee in the Eastern Division. • The Ministry of Health points out that food security is a concern and that micronutrient deficiency and growth monitoring will be important in the coming weeks and months. Health • Health assessment teams are currently conducting assessments on the health situation in villages, as well as damages caused to health facilities. The teams are also conducting pest control by spraying pesticide. • A health team is currently treating three emergency cases of bloody diarrhea on Tavewa Island (off Vanua Levu) that emerged following the cyclone. • A hospital and nurses compounds were damaged in Vanuabalavu Island and Ono-I-Lau. Media reports indicate that the estimated cost of damage to the Government quarters and a health centre on Ono-I Lau is between US$156,000 and $209,000 (FJ$ 300,000 and 400,000). • The Ministry of Health will prioritize critical health activities and submit a list of activities to the NDMO by 23 March. • UNICEF has provided 10 Basic Health Kits, Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS), water purification tables and flyers. Logistics • Three navy vessels have been mobilized for transportation of relief items as well as assessment teams. An additional three vessels from the Government will be deployed to the Eastern Division. • Local Police and a Ministry of Health boat are being used for the distribution of relief items. • NZAID reports that Taveuni and Vanuabalavu airports are still closed. • The roads on Vanuabalavu Island and Cicia Island were damaged. A jetty on Cicia Island was washed away. • Electricity restoration work is on going, and the cost estimation for the repair will be ready by the end of this week. The government power station on Cicia Island was damaged. 90% of power has now been restored in the Northern Division. Inspection of individual houses to repair electricity connections is ongoing. 2 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. • DISMAC (Fiji Disaster Management Committee) reports that a total estimate cost of rehabilitation of damaged roads are US$1.14 million (FJ$2.2 million). Emergency Telecommunications • The FRCS reports that the communication in Lau group is not yet restored. Fiji Telecom reports that it focuses on Taveuni and Lau groups for the restoration of telecom services. Fiji Telecom is installing temporary telecommunications equipment until damaged facilities are rehabilitated. NDMO reports that the communication infrastructure in Vanuabalavu Island and Totoya Island is damaged. Protection • Save the Children Fiji has advocated for the protection of children in evacuation centres. • A UNICEF child protection officer, who is also a Protection Emergency Team member of the Pacific Humanitarian Protection Cluster, has joined the government assessment team covering the Eastern Division. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene • DISMAC reports that water system in Vanuabalavu Island, Cicia Island and Gau Island are damaged. • FRCS has been distributing 700 hygiene and hand washing promotion kits, as well as 400 first aid kits. IV. Coordination • The Fiji’s Disaster Management Committee coordinates the government response. The Budget and Aid Coordination Committee, responsible for coordination of the recovery process, will meet this week for the first time. • International assistance will be coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs although operational issues can be directly dealt with the line ministries. • A Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT) coordination meeting will be held at 10:00am on 24 March. V. Funding • The US Government has provided US$100,000 to the FRCS. All humanitarian partners including donors and recipient agencies are encouraged to inform FTS of cash and in-kind contributions by sending an email to: [email protected]. VI. Contact OCHA Pacific: Mr. Peter Muller, Regional Disaster Response Adviser Email: [email protected] Tel: +679-331 6761, Mobile: +679 999 1664 OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific: Ms. Yindee Lertcharoenchok, Humanitarian Affairs Analyst (Disaster Response), Email: [email protected] Tel: +66 (0) 2288 2437 OCHA New York: Ms.