Microsoft Word - MINUTES IASC Meeting Friday 091009.doc

OFFICE OF THE UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR

MINUTES: IASC General Meeting

Friday 9

October 2009, UN Situation Room, 2.30pm – 5.00pm

Agenda Items – Briefings and Updates

Actions
(To be actioned by)
Requested by

To be
completed by:

RC/HC
The RC/HC thanked everyone for joining the meeting. The IASC members present included

ADRA, AusAID, CARITAS, EU, FAO,

GOS (MOF/EU Advisor, MWCSD), Habitat for Humanity, IASC, NZAID, OCHA, OXFAM, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Samaritan’s Purse,
Save the Children, SUNGO, UNDAC, UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF, WFP, World Vision.

The IASC was briefed on the progress of each Cluster by each Head of Clusters

Cluster Updates

Information Management Cluster – Peter Schuller

•

Pacific Disaster Net online have updated information on each cluster
contents. Refer to ‘cluster activities’ online

•

Informed members that they can now access downloadable information
online re environmental healthy survey with maps of affected population’s
water distribution, homeless, status per dates. Configuration continues.

•

Website address:

www.pacificdissaster.net

Continue to provide
information to be
updated on the PDN –
(Cluster teams) RC

Ongoing

Health & Nutrition Cluster – Head of HC Leads: WHO and UNICEF. Lead
cluster on nutrition - UNICEF

•

Informed that the CEO of MOH called a meeting of the health sector
including those involved in the cluster. The MOH CEO moved a motion in
that meeting to dissolve the cluster and create a Health Sector Working Group
(HSWG). Decisions from this working group will feed into a report to
NDMO.

•

That the CEO of MOH wishes for affected population to go back to
permanent health clinics and discontinue reliance on mobile health clinics.

•

Informed that the HSWG will be calling a meeting to be held on Tuesday 13
October 2009

Health Needs

•

Reported that PPE is high priority to medication. The Ministry finds it
difficult to quantify needs.

•

Reports – primary health care, etc with collaborations with other
organizations and needs of the MOH.

National Health Programs

•

Informed that the Measles campaign to be rolled out in phase form, 3-4
weeks. Average incubation period start 10 days to 2 weeks. A lack of Vitamin
A and is very contagious.

Submit Health Cluster
Report with matrix
incorporated – (Head
of Health Cluster)
RC

Health Sector Working
Group meeting –
requesting (IASC
members to attend
this meeting)

Double check whether
or not members of
IASC are included in
the new working group
– (Head of Health
Cluster), RC

Tuesday 13
October 2009

Tuesday 13
October 2009

Tuesday 13
October 2009

Education Cluster Lead: UNICEF STC; Support: UNESCO
EC is currently very focused on immediate needs, less on recovery. 5 affected
schools in 4 affected villages. 4 primary 1 secondary. Affected children, 1,091.
These children will reconnect with 5 or 6 host schools – assuming therefore 2000
affected students. This report has been shared with DAC. Tuesday 12/10 is to
resume school of the joint-schools, needs reconfirmation. Immediate Needs:
Furniture, potable water, water tanks, school tents (for additional space), transport
(some children travel 5 km), 1

aid kits. Goal of next meeting (40 mins) is to

present these information, costings.

Response: RC – how quickly can this be made available through our
partners here? Sufficient readiness? Possible within next 7-10 days. For

Confirm number and
names of host schools,
locations to transport
needs and when school
starting – (Kathryn
RCS/ICRC) RC

Assist Ulutogia school
to relocate 300 people
currently residing in
school grounds –

Wednesday 14
October 2009

Ongoing

OFFICE OF THE UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR

furniture, may take longer. 1

Aid Kits , school uniforms, water tanks –

there is capacity locally to procure. Need to know locations, where
transport.

(RCS/ICRC)

Address portable/other
design toilets for the
schools (WASH)

Ongoing

Logistics Cluster – David Allen (HLC) Leads: WFP and NDMO
David Allen: 1

coordination meeting 2 days ago at Tuanaimato. Aim: to try

and support what is already being done by NDMO and GOS. To help system
already in place to work effectively. To bring in as much information, both
solicited and un-solicited, in terms of aid.
LC composition: NDMO officer, Customs Liaison officer, Port Authority officer –
all to ensure currently operations of small amounts of aid locally, ship, aircraft are
logged and recorded. Next meeting 11.00am Saturday 10 October 2009.

Ensure MWCSD
member attends and is
part of the Logistics
Cluster – (MWCSD)

ASAP

Early Recovery Cluster – Georgina Bonin (HERC)  Lead: UNDP.  Lead in
Agriculture and Food security sub cluster – FAO.  Co-leads in Environment
sub cluster – UNEP and UNESCO.

Informed that apart from the 2 day field assessment a smaller team went to
Manono Island 8 October 2009;

Informed that the 2 day socio-economic assessment and environment
assessment reports are completed;

Awaiting for FAO on agriculture and fisheries assessment report which will
be highly welcome. Synthesis ongoing on all these assessments.
Preliminary findings of the socio-economic assessment is provided and
detailed findings continue to capture all main findings;

Held meeting with government this morning, with MOF. Information shared
with all CEOs of ministries;

Reported that GOS appreciated work of the cluster. Fully behind the report,
and have informed line ministries to feed / support information.

Request from GOS /Noumea asked to look at longer term recovery of those
areas and the country as a whole in the report;

Will continue to hold 1 on 1 meetings with ERC and line ministries on main
issues of ERC, e.g., on resettlement and livelihood (MWCSD, MNRE, etc).
to ensure integrated, tangible information;

Psycho-social issues: counselors for teachers and parents to help deal with
trauma;

Question: Lockton from AusAID: - are you planning to continue to provide
the support of the ERFramework?

Nileema response – expectation that once framework is developed,
roles of those in the framework will be clearer and to have parts to
engage and carry that out.

Comment: Wish to note that the Cluster approach, application and
communication with appreciation from CEOs of government line ministries
shows that Cluster system is working well.

ER Cluster meeting
(Jean Stalon, ERTL)

ERC Field assessors
debriefing (Georgina
Bonin, HERC)

ER Team meeting
(Jean de Luc Stalon,
ERTL)

Complete draft report
of the ER Framework
(Jean de Luc Stalon,
ERTL)

Ensure line ministries
of the government
about the cluster
organization /
communication (i.e.,
ER Cluster has sub
clusters, and that other
sector-based clusters
feed info to ER cluster)
(All members and
heads of clusters)

Heads of clusters to
accompany clusters to
meetings with
government (Clusters)

Share reports with
Government/MOF (all
clusters)

4pm, Friday 9/10

10am, Sat 10/10

10am,Mon 12/10

14 October 2009

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing

OFFICE OF THE UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR

Protection Cluster – Matilda / Suzanne Lead: OHHR, Lead Child Protection
Working Group: UNICEF (Joint OHHR & UNICEF)
-

In particular on Children – seek guidance from Chair if this is last meeting of
this group? Seek guidance on developing guidelines and inputs from partners.
Seek recommendation from RC – to develop this in final meeting and then
endorse. This is the IASC informed guidelines on children protection.

RC – PC is implicit in IASC. Seek from participants to go through
and get back to us – in endorsement of and consider the guidelines in
your work

Adding: Peter Schuller – OHHR – PC agencies participated in ER assessment to
ensure gender, special needs are incorporated. Will be tracking vulnerable
communities over time. “Shelters for Children and Family” issue to please
contact Sosefina and SVSG.
Adding: Mike Frew / Sosefina informed that there are wrong messaging from
media on adoption issues and taking children. These are not from SVSG. OHHR
will continue to work with ERC to draft reports.

Consider and endorse
guidelines of the IASC
informed guidelines on
child protection (All
IASC members) RC

Inform Sosefina of
Psycho-social
Coordination
Committee of MOH
and SVSG of any
(unknown) people or
agencies providing
support to communities
re child protection /
adoption out in field
(All IASC members)
Mike Frew

Due next IASC
meeting 14
October 2009,
8.30am

Ongoing

WASH Update - lead UNICEF and OXFAM
-

Noted coordination of WASH is good but now needs to liaise closely with
ERC as it transitions from humanitarian into recovery as gaps are expected.

Bringing officer in on Monday to government to continue smooth transition
into early recovery. Timeframe for officer unsure;

Noted one difference between normal TOR and GOS TOR for WASH. The
latter does not cover solid waste;

Noted that solid waste handled by environment and is under early recovery.

Noted that NSF – arrived and assessed the needs, and determined no needs in
water sector and subsequently left. All water supplies back on;

Last Tuesday, final supplies came on. Some places have intermittent supply.

Noted SWA and their system seems to ignore reconnection of water of those
with arrears and continue to connect those without;

Noted that lines have been developed inland already in some places;

Informed that there are still poor inefficient water distribution systems. Will
assist how to get tanks, rationalize sizes of tanks, and how to distribute more
efficiently. 2 more trucks to SWA. OXFAM provided tanks on trucks.
Another tanker coming in.

Request heavy truck drivers with HTLicense is needed, to volunteer on
Sunday. Contact head of WASH.

Noted that EIA report is out and that EH Officers will be out next week in
villages for next couple of weeks / month showing people how to build where
to build toilets

Noted toilets – standards very good. ER toilets standards very good, get from
OXFAM. Samoa speaking EHOfficers are needed and to please inform
WASH

Request to provide any
Environmental-Health
Officers (All IASC
members)

Request to provide any
heavy truck drivers
with HT Licences to
assist in distribution
(All IASC members)

Carry out marine
assessments including
poisoning potential on
reefs and palolo; wharf
pollution, diesel
pollution, impacts on
food poisoning
(UNESCO group of
scientists on Post-
tsunami assessments)
Suzanne

Ongoing,
immediate

Ongoing,
immediate

Week beginning
12 October 2009

Housing Update - Habitat for Humanity
-

Noted that the issue of where to live will take time to resolve. NDMO to give
green light before building houses. A lot of timber has gone up in to hills to
start rebuilding. An opportunity exists of doing everything right. Disaster
mitigation, greenhousing, rainwater collection, will be taken into
consideration. Keen to work together. Lessons learned from 2004 tsunami re
building long-term housing will also be considered.

Habitat for Humanity to
work closely with ERC
– (H4H and ERC)

UN Habitat assistance

Ongoing

Ongoing

OFFICE OF THE UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR

Response: Georgina and Nileema: H4H to work closely with ERC
as housing is becoming an immediate concern from government.

Response: Peter – emergency shelter, med-long term shelters issues
were discussed with government. Latter type of shelter more fitting
with H4H.

UN Habitat assistance will also be directed to ERC.

Informed that we use the ‘Build Back Better’ approach which is to consider
not just things but systems, the way we do business.

to report to ERC
(Georgina Bonin)

Red Cross Report
-

Informed actions of RCS/ICRC so far – immediate assistance for moving out
300 people in school in Ulutogia;

Informed preferentials of RCS are still on water, sanitation and housing;

Informed that international staff will be coming in to offer further assistance;

(refer to RCS handout sheet providing summary of supplies by the RCS. The
hand out was provided in this meeting)

•

Note that logistics is required to track these incoming supplies from not only
RCS but from donors (Australia HMAS, HMNZS Cantebury) to ensure no
duplication of supplies in same areas, etc

Logistics Cluster – to
record incoming
supplies for immediate
relief and early
recovery from all
partners (Logistics
Cluster)

ongoing

OFFICE OF THE UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR

UNDAC Report UNDP Pacific Center Peter Schuller
-

Noted the activated clusters and certain groupings with lead agencies have
evolved over the past few days;

Noted the fast move of FAO from the Health & Nutrition Cluster during
Immediate Relief phase to under the Early Recovery Cluster in the ‘transition
to Early Recovery phase’

Informed that system changes have to recorded properly for accountability;

HAND OVER Arrangements Report:

Main objective of UNDAC was coordination, setting and organizing
meetings, facilitating processes, initiating logistical support. David
now in charge of logistical coordination.

INTER-CLUSTER coordination, support and information
management have now been taken over by the clusters that exist.

undac.samoa@gmail.com

account will still be open for further

clarifications;

Responsibilities on clusters to follow up these actions. When
clusters are transferred over to government groups, please ensure
information is also handed over in terms of contacts (networks).
Nako (f) and Litaia to stay to support website (based in Fiji). Email
updates and mapping will be ongoing. Assessments by MOH will
continue in the longer term.

Nileema (RC) thanked Peter and Jim of UNDAC and many others for helping
assisting, IASC and NDMO colleagues as well.

RC– Given situation now, how often should IASC continue to meet?
-

Consolidated Response: Meet to review ER Framework before presentation
to the Prime Minister. Meet after presentation.

Request a clear approach that GOS will coordinate and provide review of this
ER framework thereafter. Suggest to convene an ERC to find out a
mechanism.

Fiji
-

When can response plans for humanitarian needs be ready?

Consolidated Response:

Suggesting 6-8 week plans to be drafted and provided next week, the
following clusters have reiterated times whereby their drafts will be ready
using a standardized report :

WASH – By Monday a draft plan of 6-8 months plan (incorporating both
immediate needs and more); HEALTH – expect sometime next week.
After Tuesday meeting plans will be clear. Solid waste – with GOS?;
ENVIRONMENT – by Tuesday next week; EDUCATION – next week?;
PROTECTION – completed; Integrated in ERC. (2-3 months plan);
EARLY RECOVERY – Monday/Tuesday; LOGISTICS – requirements
foreseen for additional support to NDMO is not clear, i.e, at funding
needs. It is more systems support at this point; OCCHA – need reports to
come in next Monday; Wednesday – a dead line for everyone including
Fiji (their Thursday time).

Government says that humanitarian response and relief efforts are under
control. Therefore we do not anticipate enormous gaps, such that will require an
appeal. But for early recovery, may be totally different.

Nileema – thanks all. Next meeting: Wednesday 14 October 2009, 8.30am.

Ensure all information,
network contacts are
handed over to
government when
clusters are transferred
over to government
group (All Clusters)
Peter S

Minako and assistant to
continue back-stopping
for clusters and
facilitate inter-cluster
liaison meetings and
more (Minako)

Send email to IASC
members to summarise
the work of the
UNDAC (Minako and
Peter) RC

Submit draft response
plans for humanitarian
needs from:

Provide all reports/
assessments to ERC to
put together framework
to be presented to
government. (All
Clusters)

IASC meeting to
review ER Framework
before presentation to
government (IASC)

Present to the Prime
Minister of Samoa the
Early Recover
Framework. (RC)

Suggest mechanism on
how government will
continue to implement
the ER Framework –
(ERC)
Support Samartians
Purse cash for work /
voucher programs

IASC

Ongoing

Ongoing

As soon as
possible

All draft
response plans
due Wednesday
14 October 2009

Due COB 14
October 2009

14 October 2009,
8.30am, UN
Situation Room,
Matautu Uta

TBC – Thursday
15 or Friday 16
October 2009

Per feedback
from government
re ER
Framework

Ongoing.