Marshall Islands
Disasters
By Hanna Butler / IFRC
The 191st pin on the Red Cross Red Crescent world map is set to be for the Marshall Islands Red Cross, which is on track to becoming the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ (IFRC) newest National Society, after the first visit from the Secretary General of the IFRC. Elhadj As Sy visited the islands from 15 to 21 March 2018.
Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Republic of the Marshall Islands is home to 50,000 people, across 29 coral atolls and more than 1,150 islands and islets.
AT A GLANCE
Region East Asia and Pacific
Risks Reversal of development gains post-disaster; long term economic and fiscal impacts
Area of Engagement Deepening financial protection
Following a successful pilot program, Pacific Island Countries established a sovereign catastrophe risk insurance company for the region, increasing resilience and access to short-term funds needed to respond to disasters.
HIGH VULNERABILITY, LIMITED BUDGETS
Introduction
Disaster events have lasting impacts on people, communities, and socioeconomic development. Countries in the Pacific are among the most exposed, globally, to natural disasters, including floods, droughts, cyclones, and earthquakes. The effects of climate change threaten to increase the severity and frequency of hazard events in the Pacific region, emphasizing the need for Pacific island countries to protect themselves against corresponding social and economic consequences.
The following syndromes have been flagged:
· Acute Fever and Rash: Fiji, Northern Marianna Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu
Other Updates:
Meningococcal disease:
· Outbreak of meningococcal disease group C is ongoing in Fiji. The Fiji MHMS will continue to post updates on PacNet. The last update was posted on 6 April 2018 For details of previous updates please refer to: MHMS media release
Dengue:
· There are ongoing dengue serotype-2 outbreaks in Fiji, Vanuatu. The weekly number of cases (dengue serotype-2) reported is decreasing in Tonga and Samoa
WFP/Government of the Marshall Islands News Release
The following syndromes have been flagged:
• Acute Fever and Rash: Northern Marianna Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu
Other Updates:
Meningococcal disease:
• Outbreak of meningococcal disease group C is ongoing in Fiji. As of 29 March 2018 of there have been 38 cases including 4 deaths since 1 January 2018. Majority of the cases are from the Central division and all cases are less than 19 years of age.
This Regional Briefing on Asia- Pacific National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) aims to provide a brief overview of the NAP experiences of middle-income countries in the Asia and Pacific region (excluding Central Asia), and highlight emerging issues, challenges and opportunities.
In brief
Many countries in Asia-Pacific have institutional arrangements in place for climate change adaptation, providing highlevel support and institutional coordination.
The following syndromes were flagged this week:
• Acute Fever and Rash – Vanuatu, Federated State of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Northern Mariana Island
• Dengue Like Illness – Vanuatu
• Prolonged Fever – French Polynesia
Other Update:
Dengue:
11/03/2018 Wotje, Marshall Islands With the effects of climate change and extreme weather events disproportionately affecting people in the Pacific, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the support of the Marshall Islands government is providing emergency aid to some of the Marshall Islands remote atolls hit hardest by drought.
The following syndromes were flagged this week:
Other Updates:
• Acute Fever and Rash – Northern Mariana Is, Tokelau, Vanuatu
• Dengue-Like Illness – Palau, FSM
• Prolonged Fever - FSM
Dengue
• As of March 1st , 2018 there have been 69 confirmed cases of Dengue in Tonga via Dengue duo Rapid diagnostic kit from 212 samples tested. Dengue serotype-2 has been identified responsible for the outbreak. Source- Tonga MOH
This International Women’s Day, a new EUR18.2 million regional programme to improve gender equality and address violence against women and girls is being announced.
The new Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls (Pacific Partnership) brings together governments, civil society organisations, communities and other partners to promote gender equality, prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG), and increase access to quality response services for survivors.
The United Nations Pacific Strategy (UNPS) 2018-2022 is a five year strategic framework that outlines the collective response of the UN system to the development priorities in 14 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), namely Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati,
The following syndromes were flagged this week:
• Acute Fever and Rash: Fiji, Tonga, French Polynesia, Vanuatu, FSM
• Prolonged Fever: Vanuatu
Other Updates:
Dengue:
• Ongoing dengue situation in Vanuatu with 86 suspected cases as of 27th February, 2018. Of these cases, 25 confirmed cases by NS1 or IgM and samples and pending PCR and Serotyping at Institute Pasteur in New Caledonia (IPNC). For further details please refer to Sit Rep posted by Ms Wendy Williams, MoH Vanuatu earlier today.
COOK ISLANDS, February 20, 2018 – In the wake of Cyclone Gita, the government of Tonga received a US$3.5 million payout from the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC) based on its insurance cover against tropical cyclones. Funds were transferred after seven days of the cyclone event, providing the government with rapid-response financing to support disaster-relief efforts and effective service delivery to the affected areas
The following syndromes were flagged this week.
• Acute Fever and Rash: Fiji, Northern Marianna Islands, FSM, Marshalls
• Dengue-like Illness: Vanuatu
• Prolonged Fever: Kiribati
Other Update:
Dengue:
• Vanuatu has reported increase in Dengue like illness cases. As of 16th February there were reported 6 suspected cases and 4 cases testing positive. Serotype pending further testing to Institute Pasteur in New Caledonia (IPNC). Source : Ms Wendy Williams, Vanuatu Ministry of Health
The Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT) is a network of humanitarian organizations that work together to assist the Pacific island countries prepare for and respond to disasters. During disasters, the PHT provides support to governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and communities in delivering a fast, effective and appropriate disaster response. Outside of disasters, the PHT works with the Pacific governments and partners to ensure that the necessary arrangements are in place to enable effective international support to nationally-led disaster response.
Executive Summary
The following syndromes have been flagged:
Acute Fever and Rash: Commonwealth of the Northern Marianna Islands
Dengue-like illness: Tonga
Other updates
- Dengue
Tonga Ministry of Health declared an outbreak on 24 January 2018. As of 5 February, there have been 52 confirmed cases including a fatal case. The cases are currently confined to Tongatapu, the main island. Serotype results are pending. The national clean-up campaign began on 1 February 2018. Source: Tonga Ministry of Health.
The following syndrome was flagged this week:
Prolonged fever: Republic of Marshall Islands
**Other updates: **
Mumps
There is an ongoing mumps outbreak in Vanuatu. As of 30 January 2018 there have been 250 suspected cases since 7 July 2017. For further details please refer to the Situation report posted on 30 January by Ms Wendy William, Vanuatu MoH.
Maritime disaster
There were no syndromes flagged this week
Other updates:
Diarrhoea
• There is an outbreak in Kiribati. As of 22 January 2018 there have been 561 cases of diarrhoea since 7 December 2017. Majority of the cases are less than 4 years of age. There have been two hospitalised cases and no associated deaths. Six out nineteen samples testing rotavirus positive using Rapid Diagnostic Kits. There have been continuous health promotion activities in the affected areas. Source: Ministry of Health & Medical Services.
