Pacific Islands: Abnormally high sea levels OCHA Situation Report No. 2

HIGHLIGHTS/ KEY PRIORITIES

- Damage and humanitarian need in Federated States of Micronesia still unclear but expected to prove manageable at the national level

- High seas receding, immediate threat appearing to diminish

- No request for international assistance from any affected country

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Abnormally high sea levels have been experienced by a range of Pacific Island Countries (PICs) since Tuesday 9 December. In some instances, damage to buildings, flooding, and displacement of people has occurred. No deaths have been reported.

Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)

Unusually high surf began to affect FSM starting on Monday 8 December and peaking on Tuesday 9 December. In Kosrae, the Governor is reported to have declared a state of emergency but is yet to make a specific request to the National Government for Relief Assistance. About 100 meters of shoreline on the main island has been washed with seawater with some damage to buildings. In Pohnpei, about 90 percent of Nukuoro Island has been affected with 200 meters of shoreline washed with seawater. All other mini islands (29 in total) have been inundated and have been submerged under at least 2 feet of salt water. It is likely that the Chuuk and Yap outer islands are experiencing similar problems but nothing has been reported yet.

Unofficial reports suggest that there have been no deaths. The water has since receded and there has been only minor damage to buildings and minimal displacement. Formal assessments to confirm this have not yet been completed.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

No PIC has requested international assistance. The domestic responses are summarised below.

Assessment

FSM

The OEM has redeployed two staff stationed in Yap on other assignments to assess the situation and report back to the OEM office.

The National Government, with the support of USAID, is helping with assessment of damages in the week beginning 15 December 2008.

Food and Nutrition

Unsubstantiated reports have been made of the destruction of food crops on several unidentified FSM islands. No action is reported to have been taken.

Needs and Gaps

An immediate assessment, and improved information flow is required in FSM to allow National and International humanitarian actors to determine what action, if any, is required. Of particular importance is identification of the FSM islands which have experienced damage to food crops and an assessment of any acute and chronic nutritional needs. Further, it is unclear whether the 29 inundated islands were inhabited, and if so, whether their populations have access to appropriate water supplies.

Longer term, an assessment of the agricultural viability of inundated land will also need to be undertaken.

Expectations for the short-term future

According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology forecast, the current high tide has peaked on Saturday 13 December and that the seas should be returning to more normal levels. Pending the results of the assessment in FSM, and barring an unforeseen incident, national governments appear equipped to cope with the clean up, reconstruction and appeasement of any humanitarian need caused by the recent high seas without calling on international assistance.

Contact:

This sit rep has been issued by OCHA Pacific. For further information, please contact

OCHA Pacific
Tel: +679-331-7320 Fax: +679-330-9762 Email: ocha.fj@undp.org