Asia Pacific Region: Weekly Regional Humanitarian Snapshot (13 - 19 May 2014)

SOLOMON ISLANDS

National authorities report that around 4,500 people remain displaced with many people accepting assistance packages to return to their place of origin.
Around 1,500 houses in Honiara and greater Guadalcanal were either destroyed or damaged. Drinking water remains a concern for an estimated 50 per cent of the 50,000 people affected by the severe floods in April and the Ministry of Health is investigating the diarrhoea-related deaths of four children from Guadalcanal. Over 9,000 households in Honiara, Guadalcanal and Isabel have lost 75 to 100 per cent of their food gardens. Preliminary findings from a rapid socio-economic impact assessment estimate total damage and losses to be US$108 million. Tensions are rising in Honiara with several arrests over the weekend following looting and arson. The unrest was reportedly sparked by a mix of local youths and individuals dissatisfied with flood relief assistance. Extra police have been deployed to monitor the situation.

The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team has recommended that close monitoring and immediate controlled lowering of water levels is undertaken at the Gold Ridge mine tailings dam. The UN Resident Coordinator for Fiji has been designated Humanitarian Coordinator for the Solomon Islands for a period of three months.

Source: OCHA ROP

INDONESIA

On Sunday, 18 May, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck at a depth of 9 kilometres beneath the sea, 319 kilometres southwest of Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province.
The quake was felt across many parts of the province, causing panic. The earthquake did not cause major damage and there were no immediate reports of injuries.
Source: GDACS/OCHA Indonesia

Ongoing Emergencies

• Philippines: Typhoon Haiyan
• Philippines: Bohol Earthquake
• Philippines: Zamboanga
• Myanmar: Rakhine State
• Myanmar: Kachin State