On 9 January, Acting Prime Minister John Anderson announced that Australia will send a primary health care team to Niue after Cyclone Heta destroyed the country's only hospital.
Australian officials are working closely with New Zealand, Niue and French authorities to ensure the response on Niue is timely, comprehensive and fully effective.
The deployment of the health team is in addition to an initial emergency relief assistance package for Niue and Samoa, announced by Foreign Minister Alexander Downer on 8 January.
Australia stands ready to respond to requests for further assistance to both Niue and Samoa to help deal with on-going recovery and rehabilitation activities
Media releases
- Australian Emergency Assistance for Niue and Samoa
- Australia to Send Health Care Team to Cyclone-Ravaged Niue
Niue
On 6 January, the cyclone passed directly over the small nation of Niue, causing severe and widespread damage to crops and buildings. One fatality and several injuries have been reported on Niue.
Australian assistance will address essential relief needs such as health care, water purification, first aid supplies, food, shelter and the restoration of communications.
An Australian aid official is on Niue as part of the New Zealand-led relief mission, and is helping to coordinate assessment and response options with Niuean authorities.
Australia stands ready to extend further assistance to help deal with on-going recovery and rehabilitation activities.
Samoa
Cyclone Heta passed near Savaii, Samoa's largest island on Monday 5 January before tracking southeast directly over Niue.
Samoa is reporting widespread damage from wind, flash flooding and strong tidal surges mainly to crops and some housing. Power, communications and water supplies have also been affected.
An Australian aid official took part in an aerial surveillance mission over Samoa on 8 January.
Australian emergency assistance will support the Samoan Government's relief and assessment efforts, and will assist the Samoan Red Cross to purchase tarpaulins, lanterns, chainsaws, building materials, water containers, water purification tablets and first aid supplies.
The Government of Samoa is still to fully assess field reports of damage caused by Cyclone Heta and the Australian Government remains ready to consider further requests for assistance.
Tonga, Wallis and Tokelau
Tonga is currently assessing damage caused by the cyclone and may seek assistance based on those assessments.
Tonga has reported moderate damage to crops and some housing.
The Wallis Group is reporting damage to crops and coastal flooding of low-lying areas.
Damage to Tokelau is reported to be minimal.
More detailed information on Cyclone Heta can be found at:
https://metoc.npmoc.navy.mil//jtwc.html (Joint Typhoon Warning Service, Hawaii) http://www.met.gov.fj/advisories.html (Fiji Meteorological Service, Suva)
How you can Help
The best way to help in response to an appeal from an affected nation is through the donation of money to credible non-government overseas aid organisations that have extensive experience in relief operations.
The Australian Council for Overseas Aid (ACFOA) has advised that the Australian Foundation for Peoples of Asia and South Pacific Limited (AFAP) is the only partner Australian NGO receiving Cash/goods (particularly seeking medical supplies) at present for Niue.
The donation hot line number is 1800 007 308 and web site is www.afap.org.
The Australian Government also works in cooperation with international and domestic relief agencies to improve preparedness and risk reduction strategies, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.
Key organisations include:
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
- United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
- International Federation of the Red Cross
- International Committee of the Red Cross
- Medecins Sans Frontieres
- Australian NGO members of the Australian Council for Overseas Aid (ACFOA)
- World Food Programme
- United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
- World Health Organisation
How Australia Responds to Emergencies
Before Australia can take direct action, the affected country must make an official request for assistance. To take action uninvited would breach international protocols and display a lack of respect for the affected country's sovereignty.
AusAID is nevertheless active from the moment it learns of a disaster to ensure that we are best positioned to rapidly deliver assistance to those in need, should it be requested.
When AusAID learns of a disaster or receives a disaster alert, an AusAID Emergency Officer in Canberra is tasked with gathering information and assessing the situation.
AusAID consults with a range of people who might include the Australian High Commission/Embassy in the affected country, the United Nations, senior AusAID staff, Emergency Management Australia and representatives from France and New Zealand, with whom we jointly respond to many of the disasters that occur in the Pacific.
If assistance from other government departments such as the Australian Defence Force or Emergency Management Australia is required, AusAID also seeks the approval of the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs for funds to provide the necessary assistance. The Ministers of other government departments are consulted concurrently for the approval of their involvement in the response.
When AusAID receives a request for assistance by an overseas government, it can respond directly through the actions of its own staff in Canberra or at an Embassy/High Commission in the affected country or with Emergency Management Australia. The approach depends on the individual circumstances of the emergency including the assistance requested and the specific response offered by Australia.
AusAID may also request advice from non-government organisations on their ability to provide staff and assistance for the response.
AusAID continues to monitor events and consult with key stakeholders until the emergency ends.