SAMOA LOGISTICS CLUSTER
Logistics Cluster Response to Tsunami, October 2009
Logistics Cluster, Samoa, October 2009
The Logistics Cluster for Samoa was
activated on October 05, 2009 with the
aim of supporting the Government of
Samoa National Disaster Management
Office in the aftermath of the earthquake
and tsunami that impacted the islands of
Samoa,
American
Samoa
and
Niauatoputapu in Tonga.
Context:
At 06:48 local time on Tuesday 29
September, 2009, a magnitude 8.3
earthquake occurred approximately 200
kilometres south of the island of Samoa,
triggering a tsunami that hit the islands of
Samoa, American Samoa, and the small
island of Niauatoputapu in Tonga, resulting in fatalities, casualties and extensive damage to infrastructure in
the affected island nations. By far the greatest number of fatalities occurred in Samoa, with 143 people
losing their lives to the tsunami as of 14 October.
A proclamation of a State of Emergency was made by the Head of State, Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi, under
advice from the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, on 01 October, facilitating the activation of a
Cluster response to the disaster, as well as relaxed rules for the rapid importation of emergency relief
supplies.
The Government of Samoa National Disaster Management Plan 2003-2006, and the Samoa National Tsunami
Plan Review of January 2008, ensured that the Parliamentary Executive Decrees were already in place to
activate the Disaster Advisory Committee (DAC), with the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO)
taking functional control and management of the disaster response, including the logistics functions.
Objective:
With the activation of the Cluster response, WFP was in
a position to send in a Logistics Cluster Coordinator from
the region, who arrived on a late-night flight on Monday
05 October. Since NDMO were already managing the
logistics operations, the objective for the Logistics
Cluster was to focus attention on the overall logistics
coordination of the disaster response between
Government Departments, the International Donor
Community, the humanitarian agencies (including the
Red Cross), and the commercial organizations and
private individuals that were engaging in emergency
relief assistance for the affected population. With
support from the Prime Minister via a DHL Disaster
SAMOA LOGISTICS CLUSTER
Logistics Cluster Response to Tsunami, October 2009
Logistics Cluster, Samoa, October 2009
Response Team, it was possible to set up a logistics coordination forum meeting almost immediately, and the
first one occurred 36 hours after arrival in-country.
Meetings
Coordination meetings have been held twice-weekly, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and have been well
attended by the separate entities referenced above. Various initiatives have been raised and, in many cases,
actioned at the meetings including, but not limited to:
•
A Letter of Accreditation written to the
Government of Samoa Disaster Advisory
Committee to facilitate Customs privileges for
all notified Entities under the Logistics Cluster
•
A simple data-entry form for expected
incoming
aid,
whether
tentative
or
confirmed, so that NDMO would have a
comprehensive overview of relief assistance
materials
•
Facilitating a working group of concerned
parties for the arrival of the naval ship
HMNZS Canterbury, the first vessel carrying
relief assistance materials to enter Samoan
territorial waters. Procedures and guidelines
established for this vessel would provide a basis for all subsequent receipts of relief assistance
shipments
•
A scheduled list of commercial shipping expected to arrive in Samoa until the end of 2009 was both
circulated and posted to the Pacific Disaster Net website
•
Encouraging the Government of Samoa to identify suitable alternative premises for the storage,
clearing and handling of unsolicited containerised relief assistance, to ensure that this can be
handled without detriment to the ongoing emergency and recovery phases of the disaster response
Logistics Information Management
NDMO established tracking mechanisms for relief assistance very early on, recording incoming items by the
donating Entity, and items despatched to affected villages. In tandem and in support of NDMO, personnel
from the Ministry of Finance were tracking despatched items by donating Entity. Whilst there are some gaps
in the data, the vast majority of information has been captured,
and is being consolidated so that donors can verify the delivery of
relief assistance to the affected villages for their respective
organizations. Logistics Cluster has been encouraging this
compilation and consolidation process by emphasising the
importance of this tracking process to donors
Handover of Logistics Coordination to NDMO and Conclusions
With the initial emergency response to the tsunami beginning to
transition into the early recovery and reconstruction phase, the
logistics coordination mechanisms will be formally handed back to
the NDMO, and Logistics Cluster will cease operations on 24 October.
SAMOA LOGISTICS CLUSTER
Logistics Cluster Response to Tsunami, October 2009
Logistics Cluster, Samoa, October 2009
The deployment and integration of the Logistics Cluster as part of the tsunami response in Samoa has, in
conclusion, been a valuable intervention, and it is important to emphasise the numerous elements that,
collectively, have contributed to the success of this mission. The positive and immediate support from WFP
HQ and Regional Bureau for Asia, as well as the Global Logistics Cluster Support Cell, to facilitate the
response to this somewhat remote island nation; the work carried out by the UNDAC team in the immediate
aftermath of the tsunami which established the overall coordination mechanisms prior to Logistics Cluster
arrival, making it possible to quickly be assimilated into the emergency response; the initiative of the DHL
DRT to get endorsement for a logistics coordination forum from the
Prime Minister; and the active involvement and participation of
Government Entities, Donors, International Humanitarian Agencies
and Private Enterprise in the Logistics Cluster meetings which
ensured the widest possible forum for information exchange and
action on logistics issues.
But by far the most significant element contributing to the success
of the tsunami response must be the excellent preparatory work on
Disaster Management and Response carried out by the Government
of Samoa, and the professionalism, dedication and resolve of all the
Government Departments, and in particular the NDMO, to oversee
and manage what has widely been seen and commented upon as probably one of the most effective
coordinated disaster responses by a National Government. The Government, and the People, of Samoa can
be justifiably proud of their achievements in responding to this tragedy with such aplomb.
Contact Information Logistics Cluster Cell:
-
David Allen, Logistics Cluster Coordinator
o
Mobile: +685 761 06 71
o
E-mail:
david.allen@wfp.org
Logistics Cluster Webpage:
http://www.logcluster.org/countries/wsm
Website Pacific Disaster Net:
http://www.pacificdisaster.net:8080/Plone/samoa-tsunami