Samoa/Tonga
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Tsunami
Situation Report #6
Date: 6 October 2009
This report was issued by OCHA New York, with inputs from OCHA Fiji and OCHA Regional Office for Asia and
the Pacific. It covers the period from 5 October, 6 a.m., to 7 October, 7 p.m. The next report will be issued around
8 October.
In the morning of 29 September 2009, a powerful earthquake struck south of the main Samoan Island chain
with its epicentre 190 kilometres south of the Samoan capital of Apia. Few minutes later, as warned by the
Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, a series of quake-triggered tsunami waves hit American Samoa, Samoa,
and the small northern island of Niuatoputapu in Tonga. The tsunami waves, some of which are said to have
been as high as 6 metres, caused fatalities, casualties and serious damage to the Pacific Island countries.
Samoa
The death toll in Samoa now stands at 137, with the majority of the victims being female, young or elderly.
About 310 people were injured and treated in hospital, and six still missing. Assessments by the Samoan Red
Cross (SRC) indicate that 40 villages have been affected along the south-eastern coast, with 20 villages
completely destroyed by tsunami waves. Approximately 3,200 people (640 families) have been left homeless.
People are living in makeshift shelters in their gardens on higher grounds and with host families. The
Government of Samoa (GoS) estimated the cost of damage to infrastructure, public and private properties at
around Samoan tala 380 million (approximately US$ 150 million).
The relief effort is focussed in two locations: (1) the southern coast of Upolu, where the most significant
damage was sustained, and (2) the small island of Manono, where infrastructure and water supply were
damaged. The GoS, assisted by Australia and New Zealand, is repairing the water system.
Samoa has downgraded the situation from a state of “disaster” to an “emergency”. Traditional community
structures and the system of traditional leadership “matai” assisted greatly in the response, facilitating
affected families to quickly find support from other family members or neighbours in the community.
A national burial and service for the victims will be held in Samoa on 8 October. So far, nine families have
accepted the offer for burial in mass graves.
I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES
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A powerful earthquake struck the south of the main Samoan Island chain on 29 September.
A series of quake-triggered tsunami waves that followed hit American Samoa, Samoa, and
the small northern island of Niuatoputapu in Tonga.
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Death toll in Samoa is 137, with 310 people injured and six still missing.
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About 3,200 people (640 families) have been left homeless in Samoa.
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The Government of Samoa has downgraded the situation from a “State of Disaster” to a
“State of Emergency”.
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A national burial service for the victims will be held in Samoa on 8 October.
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Humanitarian response in both Samoa and Tonga is transitioning from relief to early
recovery. Potable water continues to be the priority concern.
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In an all members state meeting at UN Headquarters in New York, the Emergency Relief
Coordinator John Holmes briefed on Asia Pacific disasters including situations in Samoa
and Tonga.
II. Situation Overview
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Tonga
A total of nine deaths have been reported, with 465 people affected and more than 300 people left homeless
as a result of the tsunami that struck the island of Niuatoputapu. Eighty houses have been destroyed and an
additional 56 houses were damaged although they were considered repairable.
The situation in Tonga appears to be stabilizing. The Tongan Red Cross (TRC) reported that the priority
needs of survivors are water and shelter, and added that immediate relief needs of those affected would be
met by existing resources.
While the “state of emergency” is still in effect, a government assessment mission planned to commence on
7 October will clarify whether the “state of emergency” can be lifted. The mission will also assess gaps in
relief and identify early recovery needs. Potential gap areas are sanitation or other specialized needs such as
women and children’s health. The Government of Tonga (GoT) anticipates that they would know more about
this subject within three to four days. Priority areas for early recovery activities are likely to be WASH, shelter,
and health infrastructure, psychosocial support, and fishing.
Coordination of humanitarian activities has been ably managed by the Government supported by the FRANZ
collaboration mechanism, which is an arrangement among Australia, New Zealand and France to respond to
disasters in the Pacific. The UN Resident Coordinator, together with the UNDP Assistant Administrator and
Director of the Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery, Mr. Jordan Ryan, are also in Tonga to support
early recovery initiatives.
Initial Assessment
Samoa
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A comprehensive multi-sector assessment will not take place as planned, as much information has
already been collected. WHO, the Health Cluster lead, will support national authorities with the collation of
health data that was collected in the first response phase. WASH and Education Clusters will continue to
work with counterparts of respective line ministries with ongoing operations and assessments. The
outcome of these initial assessments is expected by 7 October.
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The Early Recovery Cluster is conducting an inter-agency assessment, focusing on recovery of
livelihoods, agriculture and reconstruction and livelihoods, with the support from agencies with a
protection mandate.
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The SRC is undertaking an assessment of the situation on Manono Island. The Government of New
Zealand will facilitate a helicopter access to Manono on 6 October.
Tonga
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The assessment team deployed by the GoT will begin identifying reconstruction needs on 6 October.
Logistics
Samoa
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Roads have been restored and relief items from SRC and Samoa disaster management office have been
distributed.
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UNDAC team is mapping the distribution of relief supplies by the Government, SRC and Caritas to the
affected communities via distribution centers.
Tonga
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The chief pilot of Chathams Pacific, who has made several trips to Niuatoputapu, has advised that the
runway is serviceable up to 1,000 metres.
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The Tonga Army has 43 personnel on the ground assisting the initial distribution phase. They will
temporarily remain on location to assist with the clean-up.
Emergency Shelter
Samoa
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The SRC continues to distribute tents and tarpaulins to around 1,500 families and to assemble tool kits.
III. Humanitarian Needs and Response
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The Government of New Zealand has offered to deliver recovery supplies such as roofing iron using the
navy ship, HMNZS Canterbury.
Tonga
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The TRC has received 50 tents from New Zealand and 30 from within Tonga. There is a need for
additional 100 tents.
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In addition to a small warehouse of Australian emergency supplies that were already in place in
Niuatoputapu, Australia’s immediate response included the provision of emergency supplies including
tents, generators and hurricane lamps. These supplies arrived in Nuku’alofa on 3 October and were
immediately transported to the French navy ship REVI for delivery in Niuatoputapu on 5 October.
Education
Samoa
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GoS reported that five schools have been severely damaged in two districts. While children affected have
been allocated to other schools in the vicinity, temporary schooling facilities may need to be considered.
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Save the Children and UNICEF are planning to provide assistance to the Ministry of Education.
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School has restarted in Samoa on 5 October.
Tonga
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Three primary schools and one high school on Niuatoputapu are in good condition and schooling is
expected to resume shortly.
Emergency Telecoms
Samoa
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The Telecommunications sector has recovered rapidly. On 5 October, SamoaTel mobilized three vans
equipped with telephone lines to allow free calls to friends and families.
Food and Nutrition
Samoa
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Availability and distribution of food have been organised by the Government, SRC and NGOs. There are
reports of a shortage of tools, stoves and kitchen utensils to cook the distributed food.
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UNICEF is planning a food basket monitoring survey to assess the specific nutritional situation.
Tonga
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Immediate food needs are reported to have been met. Most crops appear to have been planted on high
ground and are relatively unaffected. Aerial assessment shows significant soil run-off, which clouded the
reef, possibly reducing the ability to source fish and shellfish.
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Livestock, especially pigs, mostly survived. However, damage to the breadfruit trees and lack of a regular
ferry service have meant shortages of imported goods. Some people have lost their vehicles, making
access to food crops difficult in some cases.
Health
Samoa
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WHO will provide a specialist to the Ministry of Health (MoH) to manage the information flow generated by
the tsunami response. A microbiologist will also be seconded to the MoH. WHO and UNICEF will support
strengthened surveillance system.
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The New Zealand medical team continues to perform surgical procedures in Apia hospital. New Zealand
civilian health staff continue to work with the Samoan National Health Services to determine further health
staff and clinical requirements as the focus shifts towards limiting the spread of infectious and
communicable diseases.
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Thirty-five Australian emergency and medical personnel returned to Australia on 4 October. In the
meantime, 73 Australian emergency and medical personnel remain in Samoa to provide assessment,
communications, transport, logistics and accommodation support.
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On 5 October, Australia supported the set up of three field clinics in Lalomanu, Fusi and Poutasi to assist
communities for three days.
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A shipment of tetanus immunoglobulin will be transported by air to Samoa on 6 October to meet a request
from the MoH.
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UNFPA has sent 1,000 hygiene kits from its warehouse in Fiji to arrive in Samoa on 6 October.
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SRC and Save the Children are working with the Government to coordinate the delivery of psycho-social
support to the affected population.
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UNICEF is planning to vaccinate 11,000 children in Samoa against diseases like measles.
Tonga
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On 5 October, TRC will begin providing psycho-social support to the affected population, including those
who are sheltering in the hills and have not yet returned to coastal areas.
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A private Australian medical team, who were in Tonga at the time of the disaster, are assisting Tongan
authorities to treat the seriously injured at the Vaiola Hospital in Nuku’alofa.
Protection
Samoa
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Protection concerns are being mainstreamed into the preparations for the early recovery assessment,
due to be carried out from 6 to 7 October. Participants in the Early Recovery Cluster agreed that
assessment teams should include women, young people, government and non-government participants.
The teams will ensure to speak to a cross-section of the community, including women and young people.
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The Protection Cluster is concerned that the groups, which are providing psycho-social support in the
affected community, are not taking a unified approach and that it may be too early to begin trauma
counselling. There is no clear system of identifying counsellors for the communities to officially find out
who they are talking to.
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There appears to be no system for tracking and registering children who are separated from their
immediate families. This poses a risk for children to be exposed to abusive situations without the
knowledge of authorities or communities. The Protection Cluster will raise this concern with the Ministry of
Women, Community and Social Development and Red Cross. It will also distribute the Code of Conduct
for Child Protection for humanitarian workers and design key messages for communities on how to keep
families together.
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The Protection Cluster continues to receive information suggesting uneven aid distribution and aid
diversion.
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
Samoa
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Family water storage is still a priority in the relief distribution. In the meantime, government agencies are
working hard to repair water systems.
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New Zealand navy divers reconnected the water mains to Manono Island on 4 October. However, the
water is not yet up to the drinking standard. The divers are yet to carry out ann assessment of the water
tanks on Manono Island.
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A rapid environmental assessment coordinated by UNESCO indicated that solid waste is a problem, with
rubble, cars and other machinery dispersed over a large area of coastal and mangrove land. Removing
the debris is a challenge. Furthermore, there is a number of small spills from machinery and oil and fuel
drums that are leaking on agricultural lands.
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Detailed water and sanitation assessments are ongoing. The results are expected in coming days.
Tonga
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NZAID reported that fresh water is now available, with the bores cleared of debris, flushed and water
pumps repaired. As a result, the French vessel, Revi, equipped with a desalination plant, is no longer
required to produce fresh water.
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Tonga Defence Service is distributing 20 Rotomould tanks in strategic locations in the villages, so people
have immediate access to water. A longer term solution will be necessary.
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TRC reported that the island’s water systems were damaged beyond repair and the New Zealand Red
Cross has offered to deliver a water purification machine to generate sufficient drinking water.
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Early Recovery
Samoa
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The GoS has endorsed the need to move on to the early recovery phase.
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Government ministries, assisted by international partners, are undertaking a socio-economic assessment
to learn about early recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction for education, health, environment,
infrastructure, tourism, and agriculture and food security. The Government has requested UNDP to
develop a recovery plan in consultation with cluster partners and UNISDR by next week.
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Australia is supporting early requests from the Samoan Government to assess the impacts of the tsunami
on the key income-earning tourist industry. The Australian Government has made funds available for a
tourism assessment by a local firm, KVA.
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Asian Development Bank advisers for infrastructure and education as well as a UNICEF education
specialist will arrive on 6 October.
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Australia is in discussions with New Zealand and other donors to coordinate the long-term reconstruction
assistance.
Tonga
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Tafahi Island, which is 9 kilometres north of Niuatoputapu, is mostly unaffected. However, four fishing
boats have been reported lost. It is likely that the boats might be damaged on Niuatoputapu.
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AusAID deployed a disaster expert to Niuatoputapu to assist the GoT with the reconstruction needs
assessment.
Samoa
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Clusters are operational and are planning response as well as recovery actions in coordination with
government counterparts.
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UNDAC set up a website with postings of cluster information, maps and disaster aerial imageries
(http://www.pacificdisaster.net:8080/Plone).
Tonga
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Coordination of humanitarian activities is ably managed by the Government’s own coordination
mechanism, supported by the FRANZ collaboration mechanism.
Samoa
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In addition to the European euro 150,000 (approximately US$ 220,000) of fast track humanitarian funding
made available to Samoa and Tonga, the European Union will provide US$ 2 million for recovery.
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The Samoan Government encouraged donors to provide assistance in funds, rather than in-kind
contributions.
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The Japan International Cooperation Agency is arranging to dispatch emergency relief items worth
Japanese yen 20 million (equivalent to US$ 220,000). This includes 30 tents, 170 tarpaulins, 900 plastic
jerry cans, 300 sleeping mattresses, 400 blankets, and five water purifiers.
Tonga
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On 3 October, the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs announced Australian dollar 1 million package of
support (approximately US$ 874,000) to help relief and recovery efforts on the island of Niuatoputapu.
All humanitarian partners including donors and recipient agencies are encouraged to inform FTS of cash and
in-kind contributions by sending an email to: fts@reliefweb.int.
OCHA Pacific: Mr. Peter Muller, Regional Disaster Response Adviser
Email: peter.muller@undp.org, Tel.: +679-331 6761, Mobile: +679-999 1664
IV. Coordination
V. Funding
VI. Contact
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OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific: Ms. Yindee Lertcharoenchok, Humanitarian Affairs Analyst
(Disaster Response), Email: lertcharoenchok@un.org, Tel.: +66 (0) 2288 2437
OCHA New York: Ms. Akiko Yoshida, Associate Humanitarian Affairs Officer
Email: yoshidaa@un.org, Tel.: +1-212-963-1149