Cook Islands: Tropical Cyclone Pat - Situation Report No. 3

This report was issued by OCHA Fiji and the OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

- Cook Islands were hit by Tropical Cyclone Pat in the early hours of 10 February (Cook Islands time), and Aitutaki island in the Southern Cook was seriously damaged

- The result of rapid assessments suggests 68 houses were totally destroyed and people are displaced. Among them, 60% are living in the public facilities. In addition, 436 houses are either seriously or partly damaged. These households need immediate support in terms of shelter, water and others

- New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF) flight C-130 has arrived in Aitutaki this afternoon carrying various relief items which are urgently needed by affected population

- A coordination mechanism is put in place both at Aitutaki and Rarotonga. A daily coordination meeting is held at both locations to facilitate coordinate response activities