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http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0910/S00076.htm

 

Disasters: UNDP Responds With Rapid Support Teams 

Tuesday, 6 October 2009, 9:15 am 
Press Release: UNDP 

UN’s rapid response to help countries battered by deadly disasters across Asia  

Bangkok, 5 October, 2009— UN Development Programme Administrator Helen Clark said 
today that in reaction to the widespread disasters that struck Asia and the Pacific last week, 
the United Nations is responding with rapid support teams in Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, 
Lao PDR, the Philippines, Samoa and Tonga to support governments helping millions of 
people hit by a relentless barrage of tropical storms, earthquakes and tsunamis.  

Speaking from Bangkok where she has arrived for a series of meetings, Helen Clark said 
that “Within hours after the catastrophes hit, UN agencies and non-governmental 
organizations began working in support of national authorities to respond to the immediate 
humanitarian needs in these countries. UNDP is now preparing to support countries’ plans 
for longer-term recovery after waters recede and rubble is cleared.”  

Typhoon Parma reached the far north of the Philippines over the weekend in the province 
of Cagayan. This was after Typhoon Ketsana swept through the Philippines a week ago, 
inundating Manila and affecting more than 3.1 million people. The UN Office for the 
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which is leading the coordination of immediate relief 
efforts throughout the region, says that nearly 870,000 people are in more than 720 
evacuation shelters. Relief efforts were slowed by the strong winds of approaching 
Typhoon Parma.  

 
Three powerful earthquakes that measured 7.6, 6.2 and 6.8 on the Richter scale rocked 
the Indonesian island of Sumatra on 30 September and 1 October. The confirmed death 
toll of 603 is expected to rise significantly. Thousands are trapped and feared dead in the 
collapsed buildings in Padang , Sumatra’s provincial capital. Rescue workers continue to 
dig through rubble. A nine-member UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) 
team was deployed to Sumatra.  

Food, tents and emergency shelter, medical supplies, hygiene kits, petrol, generators, 
heavy equipment, water and sanitation assistance, education and post-traumatic 
counselling have been identified as priority needs.  

Last week, an earthquake of 8.3 magnitude generated a tsunami wave that struck 
American Samoa , Western Samoa and the small northern island of Niuatoputapu in 
Tonga . More than 120 are now confirmed dead. The waves destroyed homes and all 
public infrastructure including sea walls, hospitals, schools, roads and tourist resorts in 
some areas. In Tonga, two of the three villages on the affected island of Niuatoputapu 
have been completely destroyed with an estimated 800 people without homes. There is no 
potable water left on the island.  

In Samoa, the Government declared a “State of Disaster”. Doctors and humanitarian aid 
workers from Australia and New Zealand arrived over the weekend. UNDP has made 
available an initial emergency grant of US $100,000 to support coordination efforts, a 

 

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needs assessment and an early recovery plan. An UNDAC team is now in Samoa . Senior 
UN experts are arriving in Tonga to propose early recovery plans as humanitarian 
assistance is deployed.  

The Government of the Philippines estimates that at least 73,000 people stranded on 
rooftops and houses were rescued through national government efforts. Relief operations 
to provide for needs of the displaced continue. In response to the request for international 
assistance, UN agencies are planning to launch a Flash Appeal. A seven-member UNDAC 
team and specialists for communications, disaster response and ICT from other agencies 
were deployed last week. UNDP sent a disaster risk reduction expert to support all 
assessments and assist with plans for early recovery needs. 

After wreaking havoc in the Philippines, Typhoon Ketsana moved into Viet Nam . But with 
warning of the impending storm, approximately 200,000 people were evacuated by 
national emergency services.  

“Three days may have been a small window of opportunity, but it was enough time to save 
thousands of lives in Vietnam,” said UNDP’s Helen Clark, who also chairs the UN 
Development Group. “Early warning saves lives. With the increasing impact of climate 
change, this area of our work will need to grow in order to help those most vulnerable to 
disasters,” she said.  

Unexpected floods have wrecked havoc in South India. Even the remote mountainous 
country of Bhutan was not spared from disaster. An earthquake of 6.3 on the Richter scale 
hit the eastern part of the country nearly two weeks ago. The Government has reported 12 
deaths. Nearly 43,500 homes, 89 schools and more than 115 government offices and 400 
monasteries were damaged. A joint World Bank and UN damage assessment has begun 
in two affected districts in Bhutan.  

The UN is doing its utmost to support all disaster-struck countries deal with these 
emergencies.