Solomon Islands

From providing vital IT services in Iraq, Nigeria and Yemen to supporting preparedness activities in the Pacific and Caribbean regions, the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) was highly active in 2018. Here's a brief overview of what we did and where we were last year. ​Have a look at the ETC annual infographic.

Hundreds of Red Cross volunteers thoughout the region have been mobilised over the past fortnight to deal with the bad weather pummelling several Pacific islands.

Read more on Radio New Zealand International

The Red Cross Red Crescent across the Asia Pacific region and in the Middle East have been helping people prepare for and cope with damaging extreme seasonal-weather – ranging from extreme cold and snow to storms and flash floods.

Most recently the ICRC in Lebanon yesterday tweeted that Storm Norma had left almost 600 Syrian refugee families in Aarsal, in the north-east of the country, one of the worst affected areas, without bread or fuel for heating.

The following syndromes have been flagged this week:

• Acute Fever and Rash: Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Kiribati

• Prolonged fever: French Polynesia

Other updates:

Invasive Meningococcal Disease

• American Samoa reports one case of Meningococcal B in a 2 month old returned traveler from New Zealand. The patient was treated and has recovered. Source: Personal communication with American Samoa Department of Health Epidemiologist.

Dengue

THAILAND

Tropical Storm Pabuk made landfall in southern Thailand on 4 January, bringing widespread and torrential rainfall affecting 720,885 people and damaging farmland and houses in 16 provinces. Provincial authorities are leading the relief operation with support from national government, Thai Red Cross and local NGOs.

720,880 people affected

PACIFIC

• As of 22:00 (UTC) on the 5 January TC PENNY was located 668 km south west of Rennell Island, moving slowly south west, away from the Solomon Islands, as a Tropical Depression.

• The National Disaster Management Office of the Solomon Islands has now cancelled the special weather advisory issued on the 5 January; however warnings remain in place for strong winds.

• As of the 5 January, the Solomon Islands Red Cross Society reports 827 affected and 174 destroyed households in three provinces (Malaita, Western and Guadalcanal).

HEAVY RAIN WARNING NUMBER TWENTY ISSUED BY THE SOLOMON ISLANDS METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE AT 9:00AM THIS MORNING ON SUNDAY 06TH JANUARY 2019.

A HEAVY RAIN WARNING REMAINS ENFORCE FOR CHOISEUL, ISABEL, AND WESTERN PROVINCES.

SITUATION: A TROUGH LIES JUST SOUTH OF SOLOMON ISLANDS WHILST A GENERAL WESTERLY FLOW PERSISTS OVER THE ISLANDS.

ASSOCIATED HEAVY RAIN IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE CHOISEUL, ISABEL, AND WESTERN PROVINCES. SUCH HEAVY RAIN CAN LEAD TO FLASH FLOOD OR FLOODING AND POSSIBLE LANDSLIDE OVER

Humanitarian aid is urgently needed in Solomon Islands where more than 22,000 people are estimated to have either had their homes or crops destroyed by extreme weather.

Read more on Radio New Zealand International

• On 4 January, TC Penny was located 643 km south-west of Rennell Island, moving south-east at 20 km/h.
  
• Solomon Islands National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) reported livelihoods and infrastructure to be the most affected sectors and Guadalcanal, Isabel and Malaita and Makita the most impacted provinces.
  
• Estimated affected population is 23 708 persons (4 480 households) across five provinces.
  
• Six people are reportedly missing.

HEAVY RAIN WARNING No.18 ISSUED BY THE SOLOMON ISLANDS METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE AT 7:00AM THIS MORNING ON SATURDAY 5th JANUARY, 2019.

A HEAVY RAIN WARNING REMAINS ENFORCE FOR ALL PROVINCES.

SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN No.13 ISSUED BY THE SOLOMON ISLANDS METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AT 7:00AM THIS MORNING ON SATURDAY 5th JANUARY, 2019.

A SPECIAL WEATHER ADVICE IS CURRENT FOR SOLOMON ISLANDS.

The situation

Another heavy rain warning has been issued by the Solomon Islands Met service.

Read more on Radio New Zealand International.

HEAVY RAIN WARNING NUMBER SIXTEEN ISSUED BY THE SOLOMON ISLANDS METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE AT 7:00AM THIS MORNING ON FRIDAY 04TH JANUARY 2019.

A HEAVY RAIN WARNING REMAINS ENFORCE FOR ALL PROVINCES.

SITUATION:

SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN NUMBER TEN ISSUED BY THE SOLOMON ISLANDS METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AT 7:30AM THIS MORNING ON FRIDAY, 04TH JANUARY 2019.

A SPECIAL WEATHER ADVICE IS CURRENT FOR SOLOMON ISLANDS.

SITUATION:

AT 05AM THIS MORNING, TROPICAL CYCLONE PENNY (CATEGORY 2), WITH A CENTRAL PRESSURE OF 988 HECTOPASCALS WAS LOCATED NEAR 16.1 DEGREES LATITUDE SOUTH AND 154.6 DEGREES LONGITUDE EAST. THIS IS APPROXIMATELY 373 NAUTICAL MILES (691 KILOMETRES) SOUTHWEST OF RENNELL ISLAND (CORAL SEAS). CYCLONE PENNY IS MOVING EAST-SOUTHEAST AT 11 KNOTS (20KM/H).

HEAVY RAIN WARNING NUMBER TWELVE ISSUED BY THE SOLOMON ISLANDS METEOROLOGICAL SERVICE AT 7:00AM THIS MORNING ON WEDNESDAY 02ND JANUARY 2019.

A HEAVY RAIN WARNING IS STILL IN FORCE FOR ALL PROVINCES. SITUATION: AT 01:30AM EARLY THIS MORNING A TROPICAL LOW WITH A CENTRAL PRESSURE OF 998 HECTOPASCALS WAS LOCATED NEAR 9.9 DEGREES LATITUDE SOUTH AND 167.3 DEGREES LONGITUDE EAST. THIS IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 7 NAUTICAL MILES (13 KILOMETERS) SOUTHEAST OF TAUMAKO ISLAND, TEMOTU PROVINCE. THE SYSTEM IS MOVING EAST AT 14 KNOTS.

SPECIAL WEATHER BULLETIN NUMBER SIX ISSUED BY THE SOLOMON ISLANDS METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES AT 2:00PM THIS AFTERNOON WEDNESDAY 02ND JANUARY 2019.

A SPECIAL WEATHER ADVICE IS CURRENT FOR SOLOMON ISLANDS.

SITUATION: AT 11:00AM THIS MORNING A TROPICAL LOW WITH A CENTRAL PRESSURE OF 996 HECTOPASCALS WAS LOCATED NEAR 7.0 DEGREES LATITUDE SOUTH AND 173.2 DEGREES LONGITUDE EAST. THIS IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 331 NAUTICAL MILES (613 KILOMETERS) NORTHEAST OF ANUTA ISLAND, TEMOTU PROVINCE. THE SYSTEM IS MOVING EAST AT 15 KNOTS.

Continued heavy rain and and strong winds in Solomon Islands could lead to more flash flooding and possible landslides over the next few days.

Read more on Radio New Zealand International.