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Vanuatu + 5 more

Asia and the Pacific: Weekly Regional Humanitarian Snapshot (5 - 11 January 2016)

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Vanuatu

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ula will start to weaken as it moves south from Vanuatu after spending the past 13 days impacting countries across the Pacific. The cyclone passed close to the southern islands of Vanuatu as a Category 4 system on 10 Jan bringing heavy rain, some localised flooding, crop damage and heavy seas. Assessments are underway but there are no reports of major damage and there have been no requests for international assistance.

Philippines

On 31 Dec, 186 families were displaced as a result of fighting between factions of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in North Cotabato province. On 7 Jan, more than 1,500 families were displaced as two warring clans clashed. The displaced families are hosted in a barangay hall and neighboring barangays respectively.

The Government has confirmed that 32 provinces recovered from drought during the last quarter of 2015.
Typhoon Melor brought heavy rain, particularly to Luzon, which is easing the effects from an El Niño-induced rainfall defecit. Nevertheless, there are 24 provinces still suffering from drought which began in October

Mongolia

The Government conducted winter assessments in all 21 provinces from 16 to 28 Dec and concluded that 50 districts in 16 provinces are experiencing dzud conditions with another 120 districts in 20 provinces experiencing near-dzud conditions. The Government has not declared an emergency and is responding to the needs with existing resources. The international community stands ready to support.

Papua New Guinea

Authorities report that El Niño peaked in December and will start to weaken in January. Some previously affected areas in the Highlands and Momase regions received intermittent rains. However land affected by drought often can not absorb heavy rainfall. To illustrate this point, heavy rain on 3 Jan affected over 1,000 people, of whom 100 were displaced in Jiwaka province. The floods washed away crops, raising fears that an easing of El Niño and subsequent rain may further affect agriculture and food security.

Solomon Islands

A rotavirus outbreak in the Solomon Islands has killed 4 children and infected more than 2,000 people across the country, the vast majority of them children. The outbreak began in Honiara before spreading to the provinces over the Christmas holidays. The Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services, supported by partners, is implementing a nationwide response to the outbreak under the Diarrhoea Outbreak Response Action Plan. UNICEF and WHO have local and surge staff on the ground who are assisting with the response.

Indonesia

While most of Indonesia is experiencing below-average rain associated with El Niño, torrential rain inundated 270 houses in West Sumatra on 6 Jan. Heavy rain also caused a landslide causing damage to infrastructure and impeding road access. In West Kalimantan, 510 houses were flooded on 8-10 Jan when several rivers overflowed. Local authorities are providing emergency assistance to both events.

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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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