Flash Floods Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands: Flash Floods - Situation Report No. 8 (as of 22 May 2014)


• Over 2,500 people remain in eight evacuation centres in Honiara.

• 1,663 households in Santa Isabel have major damage to food gardens.

• 22 affected schools need to be immediately refurbished and reconstructed, and 12 schools in Guadalcanal are without regular access to drinking water.

• Civil unrest was reported in east Honiara impacting aid operations.

• A Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) grant totaling US$1.8 million has been approved to support health, nutrition and WASH activities.

• Revisions to the Humanitarian Action Plan are underway to include both humanitarian and recovery activities.

Situation Overview

There are 2,566 people remaining in around eight evacuation centres (ECs) in Honiara. The Government continues to classify internally displaced people (IDPs) into three groups to encourage returns to communities and to allocate support based on levels of impact. There is no official government decision on land entitlements for IDPs with destroyed homes and the delay is frustrating evacuee rights groups.

On 16 and 17 May, civil unrest was reported in east Honiara near Panatina Pavilion and Festival of Pacific Arts (FOPA) village ECs. Roadblocks were erected and businesses were looted and burned. Additional police were deployed to the area, with businesses closed and movement restricted. The UN is concerned by the impacts to aid operations and the National Disaster Council (NDC) has recommended that a permanent police post be established at FOPA, with 24 hour private security services.

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) has been requested by NDC to provide onsite medical services at FOPA. Diarrhea cases continue to be a concern, particularly in east and west Guadalcanal Province (GP). Malaria cases have increased to 112 in Honiara and 60 in GP, with increased rates of influenza-like-illness (ILI) in GP.

Assessments in Santa Isabel have revealed major damage to the food gardens of 1,663 households, with assessments in Malaita ongoing. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) has assessed peri-urban areas in Honiara and found most affected households have initiated their own recovery by planting crops. Revisions to the Humanitarian Action Plan are underway and will be made based on updated assessment information, with the document split into two parts covering humanitarian and recovery activities. The review will be overseen by the NDMO and the Ministry of Development, Planning and Aid Coordination (MDPAC) with the support of OCHA and UNDP.

A Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) grant totaling US$1.8 million has been approved to undertake health, nutrition and WASH activities over a three to four month period.