The Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT) is a partnership of all agencies and organizations that have a mandate to respond to natural disasters in the Pacific Island region, and that agree to coordinate international humanitarian action according to a cluster or sector approach. It was established in July 2008 by humanitarian stakeholders at the Regional Inter-Agency Contingency Planning Workshop for Humanitarian Assistance in the Pacific to deliver timely, effective and coordinated international response to natural disasters in 14 Pacific Island Countries (PICs).

In this Climate Update, highlights include:

· Between 9 and 11 named Tropical Cyclones were forecast for the 2012 / 2013 South Pacific tropical cyclone season. 3 named Tropical Cyclones have occurred in the South Pacific so far.

· 11 Tropical Depressions have formed in the South Pacific since the beginning of the Tropical Cyclone Season.

· In the South Pacific, one Tropical Depression increased in intensity to Category 3 (Tropical Cyclone Garry) and two to Category 4 (Tropical Cyclone Evan and Freda).

Africa

• Working with Germany to improve water and sanitation services in Zimbabwe, benefiting 1.65 million people.

• With the UK, working to reduce extreme poverty, vulnerability and hunger by delivering regular, guaranteed cash transfers to over 900,000 chronically food-insecure people in northern Kenya.

• With France, supporting reduced food insecurity in Africa by improving agricultural productivity, sustainability and resilience to climate change.

South-East Asia

Food, Water and Livelihoods in Pacific Islands under Increasing Threat from Climate Change

Invasive Species, Waste, and Extreme Weather Events among Key Challenges

Doha (Qatar), 4 December 2012 – Island communities in the Pacific Ocean are facing unprecedented challenges to their economies and environment from the impacts of climate change, according to a new report released at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Doha, Qatar.

1. Thailand -10 provinces in central and eastern parts of the country are still being hit by floods. As of 2 Oct, More than 188,000 people have been affected.
   Source: OCHA, GoT

2. Cambodia - Flash flooding in Banteay Meanchey has killed 13, forced 5,000 families to be evacuated and inundated 41,000 hectares of paddy fields.
   Source: Media

3. India - Recent flooding in Assam state killed 18 and forced more than 2 million from their homes. This is the third wave of flooding to affect Assam state this year.
   Source: Media

Description:

The maps opposite show rainfall patterns for Sep-Oct-Nov (southern hemisphere spring) and for Dec-Jan-Feb (southern hemisphere winter) generated from a merged analysis of precipitation from 1979 to 2003.
The top row shows the average daily rainfall that prevails for the given period and ENSO conditions. Darker colors indicate more rain.

1 . Executive Summary

The Analysis of Disaster Response Training in the Pacific Island region was commissioned by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Regional Office for the Pacific.

The primary aim of the analysis was to provide guidance for future disaster management training and capacity development initiatives by Pacific Island Countries (PICs), international and regional humanitarian and developmental organizations and donor partners. The analysis as such focuses on disaster preparedness and response.

Coordination in the Pacific Region Confirming that Pacific Island Countries (hereinafter referred to as ‘PICs’) have great potential for economic growth while facing various challenges, including sustainable development,

Renewing recognition of the growing importance to Japan and the United States of strengthening relations with PICs,

Recognizing the need to create open and multi-layered governmental and civil society networks in order to establish a prosperous and stable order in the Asia-Pacific region,