Samoa/Tonga
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Tsunami
Situation Report No. 11
Date: 22 October 2009
This report was issued by OCHA New York, with inputs from OCHA Fiji and the OCHA Regional Office for Asia
and the Pacific. It covers the period from 16 to 21 October. This is the last situation report in this series.
Samoa
The official death toll stands at 143, with five people missing. An estimated 4,500 people have been directly
affected by the tsunami, most of who are displaced. The situation is gradually shifting from emergency phase
to early recovery. In the meantime, access to sufficient water for the displaced population is identified as a
problem by the water sector. Strategic planning is underway to address this issue. Sanitation also remains a
concern and building of pit latrines is ongoing as a priority short-term intervention. The early-recovery cluster
is currently finalizing the Early Recovery Framework for final submission to the Government on 26 October,
integrating comments from Government ministries.
Tonga
Nine people died and seven were seriously injured as a result of the tsunami that struck the northern island of
Niuatoputapu. The Government has released its disaster assessment report and estimates the total cost of
damage as Tongan Pa’anga 18.2 million (approximately US$9.5 million).
The emergency response is now in its final phase of moving to the recovery phase. The National Emergency
Management Office (NEMO) reports that sufficient emergency shelter, food, water and clothing have been
delivered to meet the immediate and short-term needs. The New Zealand vessel HMNZS Canterbury has
delivered additional relief supplies to Niuatoputatu. Personnel from the Canterbury supported the clean-up on
shore and provided health support.
A draft Early Recovery Strategic Framework will be presented to the Government on 23 October. The
Government established four thematic working groups to facilitate strategic planning: livelihoods; health,
water and sanitation; early-warning systems; and resettlement.
Assessments
Samoa
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The final Early Recovery Framework will be presented to the Government on 26 October. The Framework
was developed by a multidisciplinary team led by the United Nations Development Programme and is
based on key findings from an Early Recovery Needs Assessment in which line ministries, Samoan
corporation and association, I/NGOs, International Financial Institutions, the Red Cross and donors
participated. The final Framework will include inputs and comments from Government ministries.
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A draft report of a Damage and Loss Assessment, undertaken by the United Nations Economic and
Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, World Bank and other partners will be completed by
23 October.
I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES
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All immediate humanitarian needs are being addressed in Samoa and Tonga.
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Water and sanitary facilities for the displaced population remain a priority in Samoa.
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In Samoa, a shelter/housing design was agreed and the first shelter-building phase for
425 extended families will start by 23 October.
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As the immediate needs of the affected population have been met, the Government of Tonga
is moving from emergency response to recovery. A draft Early Recovery Strategic
Framework will be presented on 23 October.
II. Situation Overview
III. Humanitarian Needs and Response
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.
2
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A UN Habitat senior advisor on recovery and reconstruction will undertake a mission to Samoa next week
to look into reconstruction and resettlement issues.
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Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) initiated a needs assessment survey for reconstruction
and rehabilitation on 19 October. JICA also started a pilot project to collect bulky waste at four sites in the
affected areas.
Tonga
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A team from the Ministry of Lands and Survey will conduct a risk assessment and evaluate possible new
sites for the rebuilding of houses.
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Consultation with community members on the preferred location to rebuild houses and other issues has
commenced. The consultation will be completed by 27 October.
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The Tonga Defence Service and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) are assessing building
damages.
Logistics
Samoa
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The logistics coordination mechanism will be formally handed over to the Disaster Management Office
and the logistics cluster will cease its operation on 24 October.
Emergency Shelter
Samoa
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Emergency shelter needs have been met, but transitional and semi-permanent shelters are urgently
required (see the Early Recovery section below).
Tonga
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Latest reports indicate that 79 dwellings on Niuatoputapu were completely destroyed and 56 dwellings
damaged. This equates to more than 60 percent of residential homes on the island being completely
destroyed or damaged.
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The immediate emergency shelter needs of the affected population have been met.
Education
Samoa
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Grade 8 students resumed schooling on 14 October. The lower primary-grade students are returning to
schools. Priority was given to the higher-grade students who need to prepare for the annual examination,
which starts on 2 November. This phased approach allows the education cluster to assist the Ministry of
Education, Sports and Culture (MESC) to address needs such as establishment of temporary learning
space, WASH facilities and transportation of affected students to host schools.
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MESC is providing stationery, five tents, five water tanks and hired vehicles to transport relocated
students.
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All needs, including school furniture, a classroom tent, water tanks, latrines and first aid kits, are assumed
to have been met through education cluster partners’ commitments. The coordinated support will ensure
the full resumption of schooling for approximately 1,000 affected students.
o
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will provide 15 tents; 12 latrines; 14 recreational kits;
14 first aid kits; 2,000 bottles of drinking water; and 7,000 Information Education, Communication
materials.
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Save the Children and Tear Fund committed to support furniture procurement.
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Asian Development Bank, NZAID and AusAID will provide eight water tanks for schools.
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UNICEF is supporting a two-day assessment of Early Childhood Education Centres from 21 October. It is
estimated that 11 pre-schools were completely destroyed and four others damaged.
Tonga
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Schooling is continuing with temporary accommodation.
Food and Nutrition
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Immediate needs of the affected population in terms of food have been met in Samoa and Tonga.
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.
3
Health
Samoa
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No immediate health risks are identified. Health authorities continue to monitor the situation.
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The Ministry of Health (MoH) will conduct an assessment of the special needs of disabled people.
Tonga
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The hospital is temporarily based at the Church of Latter-Day Saints as a short-term solution. It has
sufficient basic supplies and medicines to meet immediate needs. However, general equipment such as
beds, drug cabinets and examining tables are required for the hospital to become fully functional.
Protection
Samoa
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The Samoa Red Cross compiled a list of the referral hotline for counseling and debriefing services, which
is available in Samoan and English.
Tonga
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The Tonga Red Cross continues to provide psychosocial support.
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NEMO reports that Caritas is providing trauma counseling to affected families.
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
Samoa
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Sanitation remains a major concern and a top priority for the water sector.
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The Samoa Water Authority (SWA) reports that 80 percent of the water distribution network has been
reconnected.
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The main problem is the provision of sufficient water to the displaced population, especially to those who
have moved inland. This is due to limited water delivery capacity, insufficient on-site water storage
capacity and high consumption. Water is currently delivered by six water trucks of 5,000-litre capacity. It is
expected that the water delivery operation needs to continue for three to six months.
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In consultation with SWA, Oxfam New Zealand and Red Cross are preparing a detailed plan to position
additional 5,000-litre water tanks for the displaced population (30 litres per person per day). This will
maximize the potential filling of water tanks from piped supply, rainwater harvesting or other sources.
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Oxfam and Women in Business and Development are currently reviewing WASH needs and livelihood
issues on Manono island.
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MoH and the Samoa Red Cross are conducting a household education programme, which includes
hygiene and water conservation messages and encourages the building of latrines.
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World Vision donated 57 molded plastic pit latrines. The use of pit latrines is encouraged as a short- to
medium-term solution while plans are in place for building toilets in coordination with the Shelter Sub-
Committee. Related to this, the National Disaster Council reported that due to the inefficient water supply,
all mobile toilets are to be removed from the areas.
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There appears to be no system in place for collecting and disposing waste from displaced people living
inland.
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JICA started a pilot project to collect bulky waste in Lalomanu, Ulutogia Village, Satitoa Village and
Malaela Village.
Tonga
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Immediate needs of the affected population in terms of water have been met.
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Long-term water supply systems could be installed once relocation sites have been identified.
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The Tonga Defense Service and the NZDF have located and covered 27 septic tanks.
Early Recovery
Samoa
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A Shelter Sub-Committee meeting held on 20 October addressed the urgent need to build shelters. The
Government aims to start building shelters by 23 October. It was clarified that the average unit cost of
Samoa tala 18,000 per unit (approximately $7,500) only includes building materials and not labour or
other related costs.
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.
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The cabinet decided that 425 shelters will be built in the first round of construction. This number is based
on the list of affected families jointly compiled by the Ministry of Women, Community and Social
Development, Disaster Management Office, Red Cross and Electricity Power Corporation. Although a
family constitutes an extended family that may consist of many nuclear families, the extended family will
be provided with only one shelter during the first round of construction.
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The shelter design has been agreed among all related agencies and endorsed by the Government.
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Habitat for Humanity (HFH) will support the building of 325 shelters. The following have also committed
support: Caritas (50 shelters); LDS (40 shelters); Samoa Umbrella for Non-Governmental Organizations
(seven shelters); and Tear Fund/ILEM Church (five shelters). HFH will provide human resources to build
the shelters.
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The Ministry of Finance prepared a special form for signature by village authorities to verify that people
are resettling on their own properties.
Tonga
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A draft Early Recovery Strategic Framework will be presented to the Government on 23 October for its
endorsement.
Samoa
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Health and WASH clusters have been officially handed over to the Government. Early-recovery,
education and logistics clusters are operational and planning their emergency response and recovery
actions with their Government counterparts.
Tonga
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To facilitate the recovery strategizing and detailed planning, the Government established four thematic
working groups: livelihoods; health, water and sanitation; early-warning systems; and resettlement.
Tonga
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United Nations Development Programme has provided $300,000 for the tsunami recovery programme.
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
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
IV. Coordination
V. Funding
VI. Contact