Vanuatu - Tropical Cyclone Ivy OCHA Situation Report No. 4

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2004/0043
OCHA Situation Report No. 4
Vanuatu - Tropical Cyclone Ivy
Occurred: 25-27 February 2004
This situation report is based on information provided by the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) Team in Vanuatu.

Situation

1. Tropical Cyclone Ivy has affected more than 54,000 people (or a quarter of the national population) in the islands including Erromango, Malekula, Ambae, Ambrym, Epi, Pamma, Shepards Group and Tanna.

2. Sufficient early warning by the Bureau of Meteorology averted a lot of deaths and injuries: there are 2 persons killed, 1 seriously injured, and 7 suffered minor injuries. However, the cyclone has caused serious damage to the daily life of the affected people.

3. Over 95 % of water storage facilities, water sources and systems in the affected islands were damaged. Some outbreak of malaria has been reported in Tanna. More relief activities for water and sanitation, particularly water testing, are urgently needed.

4. Within one to two weeks the affected communities will start running out of food. Relief stocks of donors are almost exhausted and funding is required to enable delivery.

5. The damages to the houses, buildings and agriculture are as follows:

• Approximately 11,000 houses damaged
• About half of health centres sustained minor to substantial damages
• 44 schools and rural training centres damaged on either roofs or walls, with a couple completely destroyed on Ambryn, as well as a primary school on Paama; The school in Malekula completely buried by the landslide
• Cash crops, especially cocoa and kava, mostly destroyed; Coconut plantations also seriously damaged

Immediate Needs

6. The priority for the Government is to meet minimum water needs and health standards, and to repair schools. The immediate relief needs identified include:

• Tarpaulins of different sizes to schools, health centres and affected communities
• Water containers for schools, health centres and affected communities
• Water purification tablets
• Vegetable seed packets
• Provision of tools to support immediate community recovery programmes for Ambrym, Malekula and Epi
• Medical supplies for schools and health centers
• Food aid
• Education kits
• Logistical support.

National Response

7. 30,000 household relief packages have been delivered so far. These packages provide the minimum to sustain life and some home comforts.

8. The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) is now focusing on planning for the distribution of more relief materials. The Government is conducting sectoral assessment to determine further emergency assistance, as well as medium and long term recovery programmes.

International Response

9. OCHA has provided an emergency grant of USD 10,000 for transportation of relief items.

10. The UNDAC Team is supporting the NDMO in coordination and administrative functions as well as in assessment particularly of water supply and sanitation in cooperation with UNICEF and WHO.

11. OCHA is in close contact with the NDMO through the UNDAC Team in Vanuatu and the office of the OCHA RDRA for the Pacific, based in Fiji, and will revert with further information as it becomes available.

12. This situation report, together with information on other ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int

MAP - Vanuatu: Storm track of Cyclone Ivy

CONTACTS

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Mr. Soichi Nakajima
Direct Tel. +41-22-917 40 34

Press contact:
(in GVA) Ms. Madeleine Moulin-Acevedo Direct Tel. +41-22-917 3160

(in N.Y.) Ms. Stephanie Bunker Direct Tel. +1-917-367 51 26