Vanuatu Assist

OP Vanuatu Assist

Initial JIPOEAs of 1800hrs, 13 Mar 15

Vanuatu Assist

Latest Reporting

TC PAM•13 Mar 15, 1645h: Very destructive hurricane force winds of 230km/h is affecting MALAMPA, SHEFA and extending to TEFEA•Destructive storm force winds of 110km/h will continue to affect TORBA, SANMA and PENAMA provinces•Severe TC CAT 5, damaging gale force winds & rough seas for all provinces•Coastal flooding of low lying areas•High storm surge•Eye of TC expected to pass close to Port Vila

Vanuatu Government Actions to Date:•Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF) evacuations of vulnerable communities in Port Vila area (13 Mar 15) – visible patrols in the city•Only essential services offered from Port Vila central hospital – no ambulance response from 1300, 13 Mar 15.•Bauerfield Airport closed (all flights cancelled UFN) – reassessed at 1600, 14 Mar 15

Likely Humanitarian Impact•Low lying communities impacted by storm surge•Health and disease issues in aftermath•Communications damage likely to be significantNZ HICOM (Port Vila)•HICOM closed, despatching NZDF from 16 Mar 15.

Australian HICOM (Port Vila)•CAP YELLOW – RED in coming hrs, Chancery closed•845 registered Australians, likely 3000-3500 in Vanuatu based on DFAT estimate•Post response committee meeting 1200, 14 Mar 15

Likely Requests for Support•Australia is the current FRANZ chair – next meeting for 1330, Sat 14 Mar 15•Expected request for aerial surveillance, release of pre-positioned emergency relief stores & logistics•Support through Australian Civilian Corps•Vanuatu Humanitarian Team meeting – 1000, Sun 15 Mar 15 – coordination of response efforts•Expecting a larger response support effort from international community once damage assessed in next 48-72hrs

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TC Activity & ProjectionsUNCLASSIFIED

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TC Activity & ProjectionsUNCLASSIFIED

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TC Activity & ProjectionsUNCLASSIFIED

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TC Activity & ProjectionsUNCLASSIFIED

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TC Activity & ProjectionsUNCLASSIFIED

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TC Activity & ProjectionsUNCLASSIFIED

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TC Activity & ProjectionsUNCLASSIFIED

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Areas of Interest

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Country Overview

• Vanuatu is located on the Oceania continent• Population is 221,552 inhabitants• Capital is Port Vila• Area is 12,200sqkm• Phone country code is 678

Climate• Average midday temperatures in Port-Vila range from 25°C in winter to 29°C in summer• Humidity averages approx 74% • Rainfall on Efate is approx 230cm annually• Tropical oceanic climate is moderated by south-eastern trade winds (between May and Oct)• Cyclones may occur between Nov and Apr• Subject to earthquakes, volcanic activity, tsunami and landslides • Seven earthquakes were recorded in 2011, all of which were at least a 6.0 magnitude)

Provinces• Vanuatu is divided into six provinces

Provinces of Vanuatu

Province Capital Main Islands Land Area (km2) Population (2009)

Malampa Lakatoro Ambrym, Malakula, Paama 2779 36727

Penama Longana Pentecost Island, Ambae, Maewo 1198 30819

Sanma Luganville Santo, Malo 4248 45855

Shefa Port Vila Efate, Shepherd Islands 1455 78723

Tafea Isangel Tanna, Aniwa, Futuna, Erromango, Anatom 1628 32540

Torba Sola Banks, Torres Islands 882 9359

Vanuatu Port Vila Total: 12189 Total: 234023

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Vanuatu Assist

Geography, Topography & Hydrography

Geography• Total land area: 12,200km2• Neighboring countries:

- Fiji and Samoa (east)- Australia (west)- PNG (north west)

• Other countries of interest is New Caledonia (south west); has dispute over Matthew and Hunter Islands• Distance from Port Vila (Capital) to Brisbane is 1947km

Topography & HydrographyTerrain• Most of the islands are forested and mountainous with narrow coastal strips• Islands are of coral and volcanic origin and rise steeply with uneasy soils and little permanent freshwater• 2005 estimate: 9% land is used for agriculture (7% permanent crops, 2% arable land)• Shoreline is usually rocky with fringing reefs and no continental shelf, dropping rapidly into ocean

Obstacles• Active volcanoes on several islands (including Ambrym, Lopevi and Tanna), and also underwater• Highest peak (Tabwemasana) on Espiritu Santo, rises 1878m above sea level

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Vanuatu Assist

Historical Cyclone Events

Tropical Cyclone Lusi in 2014

Tropical Cyclone History

Tropical Cyclone Lusi• Category 1, increased to Category 2 over Vanuatu• 10 - 13 Mar 14• Impact reports:

•10 dead•4 injured•149 people displaced•117 houses damaged•3 classrooms destroyed•2 churches destroyed

• Initial reports indicated the following provinces were affected assessment teams identified food security risks for 4687 households in:

•Penama (Pentecost, Maewo and Ambae)•Malampa (Ambrym)•Torba (Gaua, Merig, Vanualava and Merelava)•Sanma (South Santo)•Shefa (Teouma and Shepherd Islands – Emae, Mataso, Makira and Buniga)

• Immediate priorities identified:•HA required for people of South Santo village•Emergency NFIs, shelter, water and food for displaced people•Food security to minimise impact of the cyclone on food supply•Water and sanitation systems to be repaired in priority areas•Replace school supplies and repair damaged school facilities•Protection monitoring for displaced communites and families

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TC Pam Context

What occurred during the last Cyclone in Vanuatu:

•TC Lusi (2014) CAT 2 passed 85km to the west of Port Villa. The initial impact reports from the provinces indicated the following:

– 10 dead, 4 injured, 149 people displaced (60 in Santo, 52 in Emae, 37 in nth Pentecost), 117 houses damaged (27 Emae) (11 Maewo) (37 nth Pentecost)(42 Efate) 3 classrooms destroyed (2 in Hiu, 1 in Herebala –Torba Province), churches destroyed – (Maewo and Ambae)

•TC Pam is a Cat 5 with 275km winds. This will have a major impact on the community in terms of comms, law and order and most importantly the ability for the Local and District Provinces under their current outdated Disaster Management Plan.

•Outlying islands to the west of Port Villa be significantly affected by TC Pam, likely requiring ADF logistical and medical assistance

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Efate Island - Combined PopulationUNCLASSIFIED

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Tafae Island - Group PopulationUNCLASSIFIED

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Port Vila - Efate Island PopulationUNCLASSIFIED

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Tanna Island (North) - PopulationUNCLASSIFIED

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Erromango Island - PopulationUNCLASSIFIED

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Anatom Island - PopulationUNCLASSIFIED

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Port Vila - Efate Island Storm SurgeUNCLASSIFIED

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Tanna Island (North) - Storm SurgeUNCLASSIFIED

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Tanna Island (South) - Storm SurgeUNCLASSIFIED

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Erromango Island - Storm SurgeUNCLASSIFIED

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Anatom Island - Storm SurgeUNCLASSIFIED

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Tafae Island - Storm SurgeUNCLASSIFIED

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• The local population are expected to congregate IVO schools and churches for shelter under the guidance of VPF

• Medical centers IVO Port Villa are limited and their capacity to support a HA situation will be subject to RFI

• 80% of the population lives in rural areas with minimal access to medical services

– Mostly grow their own food; however access to food and water in Port Villa post TC Pam will be difficult

Local Population Current ActionsUNCLASSIFIED

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Vanuatu APODs & SPODsUNCLASSIFIED

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Port Vila Surrounds & Key LocationsUNCLASSIFIED

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Effects of predicted storm surgesUNCLASSIFIED

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Medical facilitiesUNCLASSIFIED

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Utilities and communications

Electricity Only about 27% of the population has reliable electricity, and only Port Vila, Luganville, Malekula, and Tanna are supported by municipal electricitynetworks (by UNELCO)

Water SupplyAll water supply infrastructure assets in Vanuatu are owned by the state.Accurate data on the percentage of the population with regular access to safe drinking water are not available; estimates vary from 65% to 88%.

Sanitation: Sewage and WastewaterThere is no comprehensive sanitation infrastructure in the urban areas of Port Vila or Luganville. Both municipalities lack sewage and wastewater treatment systems; waste is generally disposed of by illegal storm water connections, direct discharge into waterways, or poorly designed and maintained septic systems that leach contaminants into groundwater.

CommunicationBasic forms of Communication are available with limited supplyOne TV and Radio station located in Port VillaGood mobile phone coverage

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Transport• Primary transport methods between islands are small boats or light

aircraft

• Only one paved road throughout Vanuatu – Links Lugainville and Port Vila

• Road networks will be severely degraded by the effects of TC Pam– Local ability to clear debris from secondary routes will be limited

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Australian Nationals in VanuatuUNCLASSIFIED

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Key Stakeholders

Prime MinisterJoe Natuman

PresidentBaldwin Lonsdale

Foreign Affairs MinisterSato Kilman

Deputy Prime MinisterHam Lini

Internal Affairs Minister Charlot Salwai

VPF Deputy Commander John Taleo

VPF CommissionerColonel Job Esau

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Stakeholders - Security Forces

• Two police wings: - Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) and the paramilitary wing- Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF)

• Altogether there are 547 police officers organized into two main police commands:- One in Port Vila- One in Luganville

• In addition to the two command stations there are four secondary police stations and eight police posts

• Many islands with no police presence

• Many parts of the islands where getting to a police post can take several days

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MLCOA – Aligns with BoM predictions

• 132000 - 131159K MAR – TC PAM (CAT 5) passes 40K east of Port Vila. Very Destructive Hurricane force winds of 230KM/HR is affecting MALAMPA and PENAMA

• 140300 – 140900K TC PAM (CAT 5) hits main section of TAFEA Island group. Very Destructive Hurricane force winds of 230KM/HR

• 141100K TC PAM (CAT 5) passes southern end of TAFEA Island group.

• 150600K TC PAM reduces to CAT 4 south of Vanuatu.

1st order effectsHeavy rain – localised mud slides, fresh water flooding of catchment and low lying areas.

Very destructive winds – structural damage to buildings and flying debris.

Storm surges – coastal flooding and structural damage to PORT VILLA and TANNA APOD

POE degraded

2nd order effectsInfrastructure – Non critical damage, recovery hampered but achievableMedical – FunctioningHealth – Localised issues and first aid. Manageable amount of deaths, Pri 1 and 2. Shortage of food and potable water in populated areas.Transport – Clean up required for roads, APODs. Law and Order – FunctioningPopulation – Functional but needing assistance

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Vanuatu Assist

MDCOA – TC NATHAN intensifies on projected path

Forecast – Mon 160800K MAR 2015

Forecast – Thu 192000K MAR 2015

• 132000 – 141100K TC PAM acts as per MLCOA.

• TC NATHAN is drawn eastward into Vanuatu as TC PAM travels SE.

• Thu 192000K MAR Tropical low (EX TC NATHAN) intensifies and passes over Vanuatu and compounds existing issues.

1st order effectsHeavy rain – localised mud slides, fresh water flooding of catchment and low lying areas.

Very destructive winds – structural damage to buildings and flying debris.

Storm surges – coastal flooding and structural damage to PORT VILLA and TANNA APOD

2nd order effects – compounded by second Wx effectInfrastructure – Critical damage to key buildings, power and communications non - functionalMedical – Strained under mass casualties. Health – Significant number of deaths, Pri 1 and 2. Disease, denge, dogs. Shortage of food and potable water in populated areas.Transport – Nodes cut off. APODS U/S (TANNA).Law and Order – Police strained and civil unrestPopulation – Functional but needing assistance

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