Situation report issued by NDMO Vanuatu
This report covers the period from 21 and 28 April 2015
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Highlights
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HAP Update: Government's feedback on the proposed 6-month Humanitarian Action Plan (HAP) was received by
UNOCHA on Tuesday April 28. The main comment was on the need to reduce the scope of activities and to change the
HAP implementation time-frame from six to three months. The Government prefers more emphasis on life-saving
activities, rather than on early recovery. The document is to be revised, taking the comments into account, and
resubmitted.
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Website appeal for food support for Vanuatu school children by the Government of Vanuatu through the Ministry of
Education, the National Disaster Management Office and the Food Security & Agriculture Cluster launched on
27/04/2015. The web page is http://www.vanuatuschoolchildren.com
Situation Overview
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In Shefa and Tafea Provinces 6,735 affected girls and boys, (42 per cent of target) now have access to temporary learning
spaces through the program of Ministry of Education and Training with support from UNICEF;
Response program led by the Ministry of Education and Training with support from UNICEF assisted 14,368 early
childhood- and primary-aged children including children with disabilities (64 per cent of UNICEF target). Children have
received learning materials and school supplies.
Measles campaign led by the Ministry Of Health (MOH) with support from UNICEF and WHO is currently underway.
23,962 children (96 per cent of target) have been immunized against measles in Shefa, Sanma and Tafea Provinces;
65 per cent of targeted mothers of children aged 0 - 23 months have received basic infant and young child feeding
practices counselling in Sanma and Tafea Provinces;
71 per cent of the UNICEF’s targeted population of 70,000 persons were reached with water, sanitation, and hygiene
supplies and hygiene promotion messages; however serious WASH challenges remain for sustainable, disaster resilient
recovery;
8 per cent of 6,400 targeted children have been reached with the program of birth registration;
The common storage PDC MSU on Tanna is 30% full and being used by Ministry of Education Tents, NDMO tents and
tarps and CARE for Shelter Boxes. The remaining space is available for common storage;
No current issues with land transport.
For more information please visit: http://www.humanitarianresponse.info/operations/vanuatu
1.0 Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Need:
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Water: The water available for drinking falls short of the World health Organization’s (WHO) international norms on
water quality and human health. The results of the bacteriological water quality assessment on Mataso Island
conducted by the Health cluster revealed that water samples in three different locations exceed WHO guidelines, and
that the water was not safe to drink.
Vanuatu NDMO Cyclone Pam Situation Report No. 23 |
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Sanitation: The Health cluster reported eight cases of bloody diarrhoea and 206 cases of watery diarrhoea during
Epidemiological Week 16. There is growing concern that the diarrhoea cases could be as a result of breakdown of
sanitation facilities after the cyclone;
Hygiene: From the second harmonized assessment report, April 24, only 30% of households practiced proper hand
washing. This is posing a risk of communicable disease. Some bathing facilities were also found to be unsafe.
Communities that practice open defecation prior to the cyclone face serious health risks as unimproved water sources
have been contaminated.
Response:
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Water: WASH cluster agreed to support the Shelter cluster’s agenda to prioritize tarpaulin distribution as a quick fix to
restore rainwater-harvesting capacity. The New Zealand Defence Forces have helped to restore the rainwater harvesting
systems in schools;
Sanitation: The cluster is doing “who’s doing what where” mapping to facilitate better coordination among WASH and
Education cluster partners working in areas where the affected schools have been identified. WASH is working with the
Health cluster to intensify sanitation messaging through wider dissemination of IEC materials, and through radio.
Oxfam’s partner WSB Theatre Group staged a two-day, well-attended play on Hand-washing and Sanitation, April 25-26,
which helped to augment the message further;
Hygiene: In response, the WASH cluster is working with the Health cluster to get severely damaged and destroyed
sanitation and hygiene infrastructure back and running. Ongoing activities include assessment of the WASH status of 71
health facilities in Tafea, Shefa, Penama and Malampa provinces.
Gaps:
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Water unsafe to drink;
Breakdown of sanitation facilities after TC Pam is likely the reason for the increased number of diarrhoea cases;
Risks of communicable diseases are there.
2.0 Health and Nutrition
Needs:
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Spike in cases of Acute Fever and Rash (AFR) in Tongoa, Green Hill, Banks;
2 cases of malaria (Plasmodium Vivax) reported at Norsup Hospital;
1 confirmed case of leptospirosis at VCH referred from Ambrym; possible case of leptospirosis at Northern Provincial
Hospital;
Temporary ‘quick fix’ infrastructure/equipment being delivered to health facilities on Tongariki and Tongoa by this
weekend, as well as support for basic repairs to roofing, solar panels, etc;
Currently identifying gaps/needs of facilities compared to the current stock levels.
Response:
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SMS messaging was finalised this week with messages regarding nutrition/breast-feeding and vector-borne diseases.
SMS messages on diarrhoea reached 140,000 people;
Partners currently on the ground in Tanna disseminating health messages. More IEC materials being developed by Red
Cross and UNICEF;
Talkback show regarding key health messages continuing every Wednesday on local radio in Bislama;
FMTs have provided medical consultations to over 10,500 patients in response to the cyclone;
23 out of the planned 24 sentinel sites have now come online, covering 14 islands on all 6 provinces. The number of new
diarrhoea cases decreased last week in Tafea and Shefa. 2 cases of bloody diarrhoea in Tanna last week;
6,390 children 6-59 months were screened for acute malnutrition in Tafea, and 4,207 mothers of children under 24
months were reached with basic infant and young child feeding (IYCF) messages and counselling in Sanma and Tafea;
Nutrition supplies have arrived (with assistance from DFAT) and are ready for distribution through CMS – includes height
boards and weight scales, therapeutic foods and essential medicines e.g. antibiotics, deworming treatment, vitamin A,
etc;
75 medevacs taken place to date.
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Gaps:
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Two patients identified and medically evacuated over the weekend highlight the need for such outreach services. Both of
these patients had not sought treatment at health facilities at an earlier stage because they could not afford to pay for
transport;
27 children 6-59 months have been identified and admitted for inpatient treatment of severe acute malnutrition,
including some with complications, in Santo, Tanna, and VCH (does not include data for the past week from Lenakel and
Northern Provincial Hospitals);
8 sites on Tanna, Maewo, Southeast Ambrym and the Shepherd islands have been prioritised for restoration of health
services. These sites suffered major damage or were destroyed;
UNICEF continuing surveys and repairs on ‘cold chain’ installations for storage of vaccines. 23 sites planned for inspection
next week, including 7 within affected areas;
Biomedical equipment- Chinese donation of biomedical equipment kit received by MoH, plus additional equipment
received from Rotary. Medical shredder/sterilisation machine donated by Australian company for the disposal of medical
waste. These donations will require approval through MoH processes;
Biomedical engineers and technicians to deploy to Tanna next Tuesday to assist local staff to assess critical biomedical
equipment needs at Lenakel Hospital e.g. autoclave, oxygen concentrators etc., and arrange for supply where possible;
MoH will investigate options for safe removal of cyclone-related medical debris from health facility sites;
Dry season approaching, with implications for people’s access to water given the reduced number of safe water
catchments/tanks post-cyclone.
3.0 Shelter and NFIs
Needs:
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The Shelter Cluster is targeting 18,000 families (revised upwards from an initial target of 15,000) with emergency shelter
items;
Needs include tarpaulins, kitchen sets, tools, and blankets and distribution of these items is ongoing;
Shelter agencies are now focussing on completing emergency distributions while investing in greater shelter resilience.
Response:
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Currently, 15,300 households have received emergency shelter with distributions ongoing;
Shelter Cluster continues to monitor and address gaps. These include urban and peri-urban Port Vila where there are
large numbers of informal settlements with relatively high populations;
Shelter Cluster is working with NDMO, Provincial Government, Vanuatu Society of People with Disabilities (VSDP),
Vanuatu Women’s Information Centre as well as individual cluster agencies;
Close links are being developed between early recovery and WASH clusters as the shelter agencies further develop
recovery programs. These focus on retrofitting, technical education and training in safe construction methods, and the
provision where appropriate of tools and roofing materials;
Shelter Cluster is developing increasingly sophisticated cartographic knowledge management systems and is working
with Ministry of Lands and MapAction to map needs and gaps in urban and peri-urban areas.
Gaps:
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The cluster continues to monitor distribution in Tanna and gaps in urban and peri-urban areas in and around Port Vila.
To ensure that vulnerable groups are properly targeted and assisted, additional tarps will be sought by the cluster;
The Cluster is working with representatives of potentially vulnerable groups to ensure an inclusive response.
4.0 Food Security and Agriculture
Needs:
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The long-term food security response requires:
Fishing gear, including boats and fishing nets;
Livestock welfare support, in particular animal feed, water and shelter.
Rebuilding and rehabilitation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity extension
services which have been disrupted by the cyclone;
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Boarding schools are in need of food assistance;
Food distribution;
Distribution of fishing gear;
Distribution of seeds.
Response:
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Food distribution is complete on:
- all Efate Offshore Islands (Lelepa, Moso, Nguna, Pele and Emao);
- all Shepherd Islands (Mataso, Makira, Buninga, Tongariki and Emae) except Tongoa - Tongoa should be complete by
the end of 28/04/2015;
- Mere Lava for 580 people.
Fishing gear has been provided to households on Tongoa, Emae, Tongariki, Mataso, Makira and Buninga;
Seed packages have been distributed to households on the Efate Offshore islands and the Shepherd islands;
Food Distribution is ongoing on:
- Tanna for 40,000 people;
- Rural Efate for 7,300 people.
Further gear will be provided to households on Aneityum, Aniwa, Futuna and Waisisi (Tanna) next week;
Further distribution of seeds planned for Epi and Efate rural this week;
Food distribution for the second push of food have begun on Erromango, Futuna, Aniwa (3,400 people) and Mere Lava
(580 people);
Food has been shipped for the second push of food to Tanna (40,700 people) the Efate Offshore Islands (4,000 people),
Aneityum (1,200 people);
Food is being loaded for shipment for the second push of food to Rural Efate (7,300 people) and Pentecost (20,000
people);
The Food Security and Agriculture's medium and long-term strategy is now available on www.nab.vu
Gaps:
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No gaps reported at present
5.0 Education
Needs:
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A larger number of affected school are requesting support to the establishing of temporary workspaces including tents,
tarps and repairs;
With the recent rains in Port Vila, Schools are asking for more tents and tarpaulins claiming what they have received
does not suit this weather;
Educational distribution key messages to be sent out through the radio to the general public to respect the educational
supplies and ensure it is use for educational purposes only;
Education response: Partners must fill in the MOET distribution Delivery and Distribution Log Sheet to strengthen
coordination of responds between NGO’s, individuals and government to avoid duplication of resources into same areas.
Response:
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A senior officer from the Ministry of Education had been sent to TAFEA Provincial Education Office to assist the
Provincial education officers with the school response on the ground, including distribution and setting up of temporary
Learning Spaces and learning material;
Generators, Lipton’s and soaps have been shipped to Tanna for distribution in boarding secondary schools and Rural
Training Centres;
MOET shares Distribution log sheets with partners to fill in with their response item information;
Send in the MOET sectorial assessment report for compilation into harmonized assessment report;
Costing out of the Damaged school’s curriculum material and basic school stationery are under way for finalization;
MoET completed the sector’s 6-month recovery strategic plan, including costing;
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Primary schools and ECCE centres in Tafea outer islands have temporary learning spaces set up, including receiving
essential learning material;
Completion of the Sector Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) Report to Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the
World Bank Team;
SANMA Provincial Disaster Committee donate local food ration to boarding schools in Penama and Malampa;
The Anglican Church of Melanesia donates 100 bags of rice to Boarding Secondary schools in Penama Province;
Volunteer Paula and Kenny supplied reading books, pens, pencils, exercise books and recreational kits to No 2 SDA
primary school, Teouma Kindy and Eton Primary School;
Lipton’s, Lux soaps and rice have been distributed to boarding schools in Efate;
1 generator had been given to Onesua Presbyterian College;
Ratua Foundation is assisting Lekanone School on Tongoa, Eles School on Nguna and Suango School on Efate with some
assistance to repair and reconstruct their damaged school buildings;
Ratua Foundation is also making arrangements to bring in a container load of food for secondary schools from France;
Impact Vanuatu will also be distributing educational resources to some schools this week from their 3 containers that
have been shipped in from Brisbane;
UNICEF responded to Tafea Province with tents, tarps, ECD kits, Recreation kits & School-In-Box containing school
supplies to schools in Tafea Province and are being set up for this week’s back-to-school;
MOET complete the development of the joint press statement and is now working in collaboration with NDMO to
launch the website.
Gaps:
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Funding for trucking and support for onwards transfer of school response supplies from ports to final delivery points or
school grounds;
Education Monitoring and complaints mechanisms are not in place. Each agency or organizations keep its own
monitoring matrixes but the cluster need a consolidated matrix;
Individual responses to affected school by other agencies and individuals lack coordination by the MOET and this could
lead to resource duplication;
Some schools in the affected areas have not been assessed. This has to be done at the earliest possible;
Rehabilitation is slow, responds has not reached every affected school yet;
There will be a gap in support to MoET cluster coordination when the Cluster co-lead from SC leaves in 4 weeks. There is
a need for an agency in the cluster to fill that gap to build the capacity of MoET.
6.0 Gender and Protection / Internally Displaced Persons
Gender and protection
Needs:
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Specialised services (psychosocial support, referrals) in particular for women and children, in response to increased
cases of gender-based violence and child abuse;
Clear information for communities about distributions and services in particular on the outer islands;
Replacement of civil documentation.
Response:
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IOM and NDMO coordinated and led the multi-cluster assessment team to the Island of Mataso. This was further
assisted via the logistics cluster specifically the Vanuatu Police Patrol who transported the assessment team to the
remote Island. The multi-cluster assessment team agreed that with additional assistance and material support the
group of 53 individuals currently located in Mataso can return to the Island in a safe and dignified manner. IOM
submitted a report of recommendations to the NDMO and once the movement is approved, the IDP working group
will look towards transportation options for the group;
Members of the Gender and Protection cluster visited 3 households residing in abandoned Magnesium Mining
Sheds in North East Efate between Eton Beach and Buraoloa. The families noted that they had been residing in the
area while rebuilding their village, however they have the requisite building materials. IOM is currently working with
the NDMO to assist the three families to access materials needed to rebuild;
Reports continue of ad hoc evacuation centres in Tanna and Erromango. IOM is currently coordinating the role out
of the Displacement Tracking Matrix to better identify and track displacement patterns on the Islands;
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Psychological First Aid training for community leaders was completed on Tanna Island;
Lists of persons with disabilities in need of shelter materials was provided by the Disability Working Group to the
cluster, and shared with the shelter cluster for follow up. Tarps are now being distributed house to house by shelter
cluster partners for persons with disabilities, and previous distributions monitored;
Gender and Protection cluster provided a session on protection mainstreaming (in particular disability and gender)
upon request of the shelter cluster, specifically on how to integrate protection into the provision of shelter
assistance.
Gaps:
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Lack of psychosocial and mental health services, particularly on the outer islands.
Lack of referral mechanisms, in particular for remote islands.
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
Needs:
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Mataso- As co-leads of the IDP working group IOM and NDMO coordinated and led the multi-cluster assessment team to
the Island of Mataso. The team agreed that with additional and focused aid and assistance the group of 53 individuals
currently located in Mataso can return to the Island in a safe and dignified manner;
Efate- The IDP working group visited 3 households residing in abandoned Magnesium Mining Sheds in North East Efate
between Etom Beach and Buraoloa. The families noted that they had been residing in the area while rebuilding their
village, however they do not have access to the requisite building materials;
Tanna/Erromango- Reports continue of ad hoc evacuation centres in Tanna and Erromango. IOM is currently
coordinating the role out of the DTM to better identify and track displacements patterns on the Islands.
Response:
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Mataso- IOM submitted a report of recommendation to the NDMO and once the movement is approved, the IDP
working group will looking towards transportation options for the group;
Efate- IOM is currently working with the NDMO to assist the three families to access materials needed to rebuild;
Tanna/Erromango- Reports continue of ad hoc evacuation centers in Tanna and Erromango. IOM is currently
coordinating the role out of the DTM to better identify and track displacements patterns on the Islands. The Education
department on Tanna has advised that they are willing to assist with the DTM questionnaire and a training date will be
decided.
Gaps
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Mataso- The crucial needs and gaps were identified. The IDP working group will try to find transportation options for the
group;
Efate- No access to building materials in a village for three families;
Tanna/Erromango- Reports of tracking displacements patterns on the Islands. A questionnaire and a training date will
have to be decided upon.
7.0 Logistics
Needs
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No current logistics needs.
Gaps/Challenges
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Final Distribution Points (FDPs) list is not yet complete and will be circulated when it becomes available;
Regular fresh water supply in North Tanna and the Shepherd Islands (Mataso, Tongariki, Puninga) remains problematic.
The areas are covered temporarily by supply of water-purification tablets.
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8.0 Infrastructure
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No updates received
9.0 Emergency Telecommunications
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No updates received
10.0 Information sharing
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For more information and all documents related to the response please visit:
https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/operations/vanuatu
Please send pipeline and distribution information to vanuatu.stock@gmail.com
Please send all offers of assistance to ndmo.logistics@gmail.com
ICT responders operating in Vanuatu please share contact details with Vanuatu.ETC@wfp.org to facilitate local coordination.
Organisations involved in the ICT response please share updates on:
http://ictemergency.wfp.org/web/ictepr/emergencies2015/cyclone-pam