See also associated map update #4 : SLB Floods and Landslide Map#4 Affected Area (update 25 June)

Flooding and Landslide in the Solomon Islands Province of Makira/Ulawa following very heavy rain in the Province as of Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd of June 2012

Situation Description:

Flash Floods and Landslides affected parts of Makira Ulawa Province. This was the result of very heavy rain that was experienced in the Province over the weekend of Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd of June 2012. There has not been any major weather related reasons that analysts from Solomon Islands Met Service could verify as to the cause of the heavy rain. However, we are certain that during the period leading to the dates of the heavy rain, there has been a Trough lies to the South of the Solomon Islands with a general Easterly trades wind flow that persists over the Solomon Islands. Rainfall data supplied by the SIMS Climatology Section, obtained from the Volunteer Station located in Kira Kira has indicated that Flash Flood occurred in the early hours of Saturday 2nd June 2012. This was due to excess rainfall which exceeds 241.2mm.

Status:

Impacts of the disaster are mainly confined to the sectors which are summarised and stated below.

Agriculture:

Agriculture, the rural populace’s source of livelihoods has sustained major damages. The reported damages ranges from uprooting of crops, waterlogged since the floods, deposits of mud, silt, sand, gravel and rubbish (debris) to farming land. Flooding not only destroys food crops, but of equally importance is the loss of planting materials through rotting from being immersed in water for prolonged periods or simply washed away.

Education:

In the Education sector, Manihagaro primary school; a boarding school was seriously affected. One their classroom was destroyed by the floods. Flooding not only inflict damages to the structures other resource materials as well. The school lost dozens of copies of grade 4, 5 and 6 English and Maths text books. In other school students attendance was low as a result of diarrhoea outbreak. This has forced that particular school to cease classes earlier. Sturvenbergh RTC and other primary schools like Hariga primary schools water supply system are damaged. It is important to note that the flooding happens days leading to the mid-term break. As such, the real difficulty was not faced by the schools at the moment; however, the issue in front is weather the schools can re-open after the midterm break or not which is not really clear. Sturvenbergh RTC’s food gardens and water supply system are severely affected and are included as beneficiaries to food relief.

Water Supply:

Damage to water supply systems ranges from broken pipes and fittings to dams being buried by landslides. New paths that were created by the floods have buried some previously used underground water sources. Obviously, the affected community’s highest concern is the access to safe and clean drinking water. Most of the communities are still using rivers and streams for their daily use, with few fortunate communities enjoyed piped water supply system in their communities. Whilst some community water supplies are in use, the communities are concerned about the muddy water that was distributed by the system. Those who depend on rivers and stream are searching for usable water as the rivers and streams remain muddy.
The RWSS required urgent logistical support to travel to the affected communities to conduct detailed assessment on the damaged water supply system in order to establish the actual cost of repairing the affected systems.

Health:

Risks are high for water borne disease to emerge when access to clean drinking water is an issue to the affected communities. To make it worse, one of the clinics is without a nurse for the last six months, with heaps of expired drugs and medicines required right now are occupying the shelves and cupboards of the clinic. A nurse in Kirakira, who is part of the assessment team, deployed to one of the affected area has the opportunity to provide services to a portion of the large population needing health services.
Karie clinic’s catchment area in East Wainoni has a total population of 2970. The clinic recorded 5 cases of diarrhoea, 1 case of dysentery and 10 cases of red eye which affected children between the ages of 1 – 14. This requires urgent intervention by the health authorities. Major damages to clinic were not recorded except damages to its water supply system.

Damage to community facilities:

The floods claimed 12 houses in total of which 7 are from Maninuri community. The affected families are accommodated by relatives. This can lead to overcrowding with no privacy. Food and other NFI’s will not be enough for families to use. Apart from dwelling houses, walling of a church building in Wahuhu village was destroyed and is filled with mud and debris. A number of traditional storage houses (located in each gardens) which the families used to store planting materials (pana and yam) have been destroyed. This will result in families not able to plant their crops when the planting season begins.

Provincial Assistance:

Makira Provincial Government – Food Relief

The Makira Ulawa Provincial government has taken the lead in responding to the disaster. With their limited knowledge on disaster management and their understanding of their roles and responsibilities played in an event of a disaster, the provincial team are did everything possible to address the situation. Human and financial resources’ are committed by the province in addressing the issue affecting their communities. To date the province allocated fuel, food relief and human resources.
A total of 125 x 20 kg rice (worth SBD 25,000.00) was purchased for distributions by the province. The quantity looks small compared to the affected communities; however plans are made in addressing the priority communities. The distribution team confirmed that women are gathering food wherever possible to feed their families. The next meal in the most affected communities is not guaranteed. The delivery of rice according to some women will help them to feed their children whilst adults will continue to gather food to keep them alive. Cocoa farms were families used to earn money to buy foods are destroyed.

Churches, Businesses Rural communities

An appeal was posted by the PDC to the general public seeking support in terms of food, clothing and kitchen utensils. Responding to the appeal, donations were received from the following communities and organizations.

National Assistance:

The NEOC have being activated on standby to closely monitor the current situation and provide technical support to the MUP PDMO and PDC.
The National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) has deployed a team of two technical support-staff to assist the MUP PDMO in collating and analyzing raw assessment data and compilation of this event’s assessment report.
The N-DOC has convened a series of meetings to ensure cluster leads activate their members and to make resources available to support.
The Logistics and Support Cluster and other National Cluster has been activated to support in the deployment of National Resources to support MUP. Key Ministries worth taking note of are: FINANCE, HEALTH, AGRICULTURE, EDUCATION and RURAL DEVELOPMENT. This would be the key ministries to support emergency relief and recovery.
N-DOC has met on Wednesday 20th June 2012 and developed the Budget for MUP Emergency Relief and Recovery Plan of Action.
NDC has met on Friday 22nd June 2012 and has approved the Budget for MUP Emergency Relief and Recovery Plan of Action with slight changes and so the NDMO through the NDC will submitted the Budget for MUP Emergency Relief and Recovery Plan of Action to the Cabinet.
The Office of the Prime Minister (PMO) has been kept up-to-date on all matters regarding this disaster through SITREPs.
It is also worth acknowledging that the National Clusters (N-DOC) and the in-country Solomon Islands United Nations Joint-Presence (UNICEF), the Solomon Islands Red Cross and NGOs, specifically the World Vision, Save the Children and Oxfam all have already pledge their support for assistance. The NDMO has advised them to now organise their stock- pile of items/resources that will be deployed to the affected sites as soon as the major relief funds from the Government are made available.

International Assistance:

Have not requested any support as yet. It may be required later but this request will be through INGOS, UN Agencies who are members of the clusters. The idea would be to mobilise their resources available in country first.

Future Operations:

NDMO submission of the Budget and PoA to the Cabinet.

This Response Budget will not only be for this current disaster but will also include other past disaster relief such include the relief for Renbel, Temotu Outer Islands (Anuta and Tikopia) and Ontong Java.
Therefore, once funds are made available, the responses for MUP and Renbel, Temotu and Ontong Java will commence.

Recommendations:

<Please refer to attached situation report>

Evaluation:

The Makira Ulawa Provincial administrations and relevant divisions have two times postponed the planned National Disaster Management Office’s advocacy and development of the Province’s Disaster Management Plan including their Disaster Management Arrangements.
However, their performance at the Provincial level is OUTSTANDING. They committed both FINANCIAL and HUMAN RESOURCES to this operation.
This has resulted in the gathering of timely information to initial food relief being sent out to the affected communities.

NEOC Activation:

The NEOC will continue to work closely with the MUP PDMO/PDC and its relevant Stakeholders’ and Partners to respond appropriately and effectively to this event.

Assessment:

Assessments on the affected areas have been completed, data were collated and analysed and the Final Report from the MUP PDMO/PDC has already been submitted on Friday 22nd June 2012.