Microsoft PowerPoint - Ambrym Gaua Presentation.ppt

Ambrym

Gaua

Vanuatu volcano’s eruptions in 2009
Coordination in non humanitarian
/transition situation

Issues & challenges

Regional Pacific Humanitarian Team Workshop

Nadi, Fiji, 1-4 December 2009

Dr Bernard FABRE-TESTE Vanuatu

fabretesteb@wpro.who.int

Presentation’s outline

Little countries – Enormous burden…
2009 Vanuatu major natural events
Continuous volcanic activity - Impacts and needs
Ambrym history
Vanuatu response
Vanuatu appeal…
Outputs
Follow up…Lessons learnt…
Gaua - The issue of today and tomorrow
Conclusions – Questions & challenges

Little countries – Enormous burden

Equivalent in Vietnam or in
The Phlippines to around

Solomon's tsunami, 2007

50 deaths

10,000 deaths

Samoa tsunami, 2009

150 deaths

120,000 deaths…

Vanuatu Gaua move phase 2

600 people

200,000 people

Vanuatu Gaua evacuation phase 3

3,000 people

1,000,000 people

Just compare… Just imagine

The 650 people dead or missing in the French Disaster of Malpasset
dam's break in 1959 just represent 5 deaths in equivalent for Solomon
and 3 only for Vanuatu…

You can’t imagine what impact had this event in France, in Europe and
worldwide at this time…

Vanua

Lava

Gaua

Ambrym

Tongoa

2009 Vanuatu major

natural events

• Ambrym eruption
since December 2008

• Ambrym floods and
lanslides the 15

April

• Tongoa earthquake
the 29

May

• Gaua eruption since
the 18

November

Ambrym

Continuous volcanic activity
Impacts and needs (1)

Potential chronic human health impacts

respiratory problems
psychological stress
chemical impacts of gas or ash
chronic dental fluorosis / possibly skeletal fluorosis (Fluoride
concentration in drinking water)

Massive volcano eruption

mass displacement of population
comprehensive evacuation plan covering emergency humanitarian
needs during evacuation period
medium/long term strategy to identify durable solution and recovery
of livelihood.
early warning activity is crucial by monitoring the volcanic activity
and warning the population in timely manner

From a Vanuatu report on Tana & Ambrym volcanos, 2002

The areas of priority humanitarian needs

Provision of safe water including technical assessment
Health intervention
Food/nutrition
Formulation of comprehensive evacuation plan and preparedness
Early warning including volcano monitoring
Public awareness
Volcanic and seismic technical assessment

Multisectoral assessment at early stage is crucial for defining
comprehensive picture of risk and potential needs of affected
population with specific focus on vulnerable population
Logistical support to the government is needed to facilitate
assessment, coordination and response activities.

From a Vanuatu report on Tana & Ambrym volcanos, 2002

Continuous volcanic activity
Impacts and needs (2)

Ambrym history

Long history of a live volcano …
1888, 1894-1895,1912-1929, 1950-1953, 1964-1966, 1981, 1988-1989… 2005, 2009
In 1913, destruction of Lonwolwol Hospital – 21 victims
In 1929, partial evacuations
In 1951, evacuation of the all population to nearby islands
In March 2005, extreme degassing with estimation of 20,000 tons of SO2 per day

---------------------------------------------

Dec 08 – new eruption started
Jan-Feb 09 observation by Geo-Hazards team (emissions of thick ash plumes to more
than 2 km high on Jan 29th)
But no effective attention /response from national level (Gov. side) to communities…
So, at end of Feb, alarming “rumours” started – but based on real issues with issue of
acid rains and unsafe water supply consequence – agricultural products contamination -
health problems with in particular children missing school…
March 09, increase of activity intensity - Ambrym ejected >10,000 tons SO2 daily during
from 16th to 20th march
First quick campaign of G-H team confirmed acid rain ( when its pH is under 5.6) in
most of the samples collected - 4,000 people living in western part are affected
3rd April – First donor meeting called by NDMO (Gov.) to present potential areas for
external assistance - Decision of necessity of better assessment

“Initial situation / information”

Dark smoke and acid rain continue to overshadow Ambrym posing a

threat to human lives.

More than 9 000 people are affected particularly those living in

Western part of Ambrym.

Before information concerning volcanic activity came from a based

Research Team (ORSTOM, Noumea) but this team has left and there is
no monitoring station at this time.

Reports are only from communities affected by acid rain.
No reported damages to infrastructure
Almost 95% of the population is dependent on rainwater collection or

underground water as an alternative source of water which has been
contaminated by acid rain.

Government allocated funds for phase 1 operation including:

Deployment of Rapid Technical Assessment multi-sectoral team
Community assessment and awareness program
Possible fresh and clean water re-supply operation to fill all existing water
wells and tanks in most affected communities
Deployment of scientific teams
Procurement of extra logistics supplies to be used during water re-supply
operation
Volcanic evacuation planning consultations at community, provincial and
national levels
Establish FOB EOC at West Ambrym
Plan a food supplementary supply strategy
Maintain close consultations with partners and donor communities
Prepare international appeal to address immediate support
Deploy communication support between worst affected areas such as
Malampa Province and the National Government through NDC.

Vanuatu response (1) - Government

Vanuatu response (2) - Community

Communities have been warned on the dangers of volcanic activities as well
as the consequences of consuming water contaminated by acid rain and have
received recommendations regarding food consumption.

Monitoring and information between communities was ongoing at all times.
The needs of special groups such as pregnant women, infants, elderly, and
the disabled were constantly checked.

Possible evacuation centers and the availability of resources are assessed.

Malampa Provincial Councils conducted a preliminary assessment covering
the whole island.

MOH (environmental unit) coordinated with NDMO, other government sectors
and agencies, local and international health partners to assess the situation
and provide timely and appropriate response.

WHO supported the deployment of a MOH team to Ambrym.

UNICEF and UN OCHA are involved in assessment, response and
coordination meetings with government agencies and rapidly organized a
more comprehensive multi-sectoral assessment.

Environmental health and water quality expertise (volcanic chemistry) (Mission
of Pr Cronin supported by WHO) was setup to determine the level of volcanic
health threat to the local population (West Ambrym, 2-6 May).

Vanuatu response (3) – MOH & UN

Vanuatu Appeal

Coordinated and prepared by UNOCHA (Minako mission in Vanuatu)

Based on multi-sectoral assessment

Summary of response plan

Best-case scenario: volcano ceases activity – recovery situation after short term
intervention…

Worst-case scenario: volcanic eruption displacement 4,000 people

Sector

Response plan

Amount

WASH

Emergency assistance to vulnerable population affected in
North and West Ambrym

USD 246,100

USD 5,027

WHO

Protection

Technical assistance for Evacuation Plan

USD 17,000

1. Food distribution for 2 month

USD 98,876

2. Supplementary food for specific groups for two months

UNICEF

1. Volcanic/Seismic technical assessment

USD 17,000

2. Volcano Monitoring

USD 86,000

3. Public Awareness

USD 10,000

Assessment

Multi sectoral rapid assessment

USD 14,500

Logistics

Strengthening logistical capacity of the government

USD 10,000

Total

USD 504,503

Health

Scientific assessment of water quality

Food/Nutrition

Early Warning

Outputs …

Good start of political commitment, even a little late in timing…
Successful field-test of new revised assessment form (initiated by UNICEF)
Good multi-sectoral approach for the assessment process
Revitalisation of partnership within national and international stakeholders
Elaboration of tentative plans and budgets for the worst scenario case
Starting point of advocacy process for a stronger development partners
mobilization for long term support (Particularly for costly monitoring plan)
Development of awareness and education/information process for
communities regarding water supply and consumption
Environmental health and water scientific assessment of the 2009 eruption
consequences and comparative study with 2005 eruption data
A series of good recommendations in particular regarding the necessity

to better and permanently monitor volcano activity nationwide
to strengthen emergency and disaster preparedness and put in actions
all previous relevant recommendations of trainings and workshops
(WHO PHEMAP, Red Cross trainings, SOPAC workshops, etc.)
to develop a specific water supply plan and control for volcanic context

Demonstration of the needs to reinforce NDMO capacity (lack of human
resources and means)

Follow up… Lessons learned

The results of the assessment has shown that the situation was not so “serious”
than probably expected after initial rumours
The potential appeal lost its force - Demobilization (???)
Concurrence immediate of other events to occupy “key people” and us also…

Ambrym floods - Tongoa earthquake - H1N1 pandemic - Nationwide
supplementary measles immunization integrated campaign

Political commitment is fragile
Intention is good and easy but real action is more difficult (allocation of money
don’t mean immediate disbursement…)
MOH still in its Health Reform process and the key PHEMAP recommendation
(E&D Health Coordination unit) is still a dream…
Contingency planning workshop in September…
Experience of neighbour countries (Samoa) – Tsunami alert in October: the
first time that population reacted (nearly) adequately…
Cost, difficulty and uncertainness of monitoring Volcano activity – when to take
appropriate decision with major consequence such as a mass evacuation
Demand of national request, appeal to “officialise” international help

Gaua

The issue of today and tomorrow

Just to present the scene of this new problem…