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Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands: Flash Floods Situation Report No. 7 (as of 15 May 2014)

Attachments

Highlights

• The NDMO reports that around 4,500 people remain in 10 evacuation centres.

• Some 1,110 houses assessed in Guadalcanal Province have been either destroyed or damaged.

• Preliminary findings from a rapid socio-economic impact assessment estimate total damage and losses to be around US$108 million.

• Over 9,000 households in Honiara, Guadalcanal and Isabel have lost 75 to 100 per cent of their food gardens.

• Drinking water remains a concern for an estimated 50 per cent of the 50,000 people affected.

• The Ministry of Health is investigating the death of four children from Guadalcanal Province, mainly due to diarrhea and malnutrition.

4,500 People remain in 10 evacuation centres

1,110 Houses in GP destroyed or damaged

9,000+ Households with badly damaged or destroyed food gardens

Situation Overview

The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) reports that the numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) is still fluctuating with a total of 4,477 people in 10 evacuation centres as of 12 May. Based on the assessments in more than 12 wards in Guadalcanal Province (GP), around 1,110 houses are either damaged or destroyed, which is 18 per cent of all assessed homes. Of the 370 houses destroyed and damaged in Honiara, around 80 per cent are in informal or squatter settlements, including people with expired temporary occupation licenses.

The NDMO has categorised existing IDPs into three groups based on damage and needs. Group 1 consists of people who have lost gardens and will receive food rations. Group 2 is people who have lost gardens and kitchens and will receive food and non-food items (NFIs), and Group 3 is people who have lost homes and are entitled to food, NFIs, shelter and livelihood support. The Solomon Islands Government (SIG) wants only genuine IDPs who have lost homes in ECs, and has requested that aid agencies support IDPs in areas of return or origin.

The current health of the affected population is the most pressing concern, with high rates of diarrhea and influenza-like illness (ILI). The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) is investigating the death of four children from GP, three from diarrhea and one from sepsis.

The NDMO is keen to transition from relief to recovery, with efforts refocused on affected populations in other provinces, including Malaita, Western, Isabel and Choiseul, and has requested an additional SBD 6.4 million from the SIG. The preliminary findings of a World Bank and Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination (MDPAC) rapid socio-economic impact assessment estimate total damage and losses to be SBD 787 million (US$108 million) or 9.7 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team has recommended that close monitoring and immediate controlled lowering of water levels is undertaken at the Gold Ridge mine tailings dam.

The UN Resident Coordinator for Fiji has been designated Humanitarian Coordinator for a period of three months.

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