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2023-05 Factsheet - Pacific

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May 2023
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Highlights

The objective of the Pacific Shelter Cluster is to support a coherent and effective humanitarian shelter response following disaster events in Pacific Island Countries, underpinned by preparedness and capacity building initiatives. The regional coordination team led by International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in accordance with its global shelter cluster mandate, leads the Pacific Shelter Cluster as a part of the Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT). It prioritises provision of support to country-level clusters across the Pacific according to their specific needs, in support of National Governments who are responsible for humanitarian response in their countries.

IFRC maintains dedicated coordination capacity at the regional level, with a Shelter Cluster Coordinator based in the IFRC Suva office. 

Some highlights so far from 2023 include:

  • Inputted into the PHT Annual Report 2022.
  • Pacific Shelter Cluster is supporting Vanuatu Shelter Cluster in the TC Judy and TC Kevin (Cat 4) response. The tropical cyclones consecutively made landfall in Vanuatu on March 1st and 3rd, affecting 251,000 people (80% of the country population) according to Vanuatu NDMO. The Vanuatu Shelter Cluster was convened on March 5th, led by NDMO and co-led by Vanuatu Red Cross Society, with IFRC support.

If you wish to contribute updates for inclusion in this factsheet, please contact coord.pacific@sheltercluster.org

Need analysis

The Pacific region is highly disaster prone, and its populations are particularly vulnerable to natural hazards. The impacts of climate change affect livelihoods, coastal settlements, infrastructure, ecosystems and economic stability in the region. Rise in sea level poses an increasing threat to low-lying coastal areas. Specific shelter vulnerability factors include growing urbanization and the growth of informal settlements, which often result in substandard housing and infrastructure, compounded by social and economic marginalization. 

Vanuatu: Back to back TC Judy and TC Kevin hit Vanuatu on 1-3 March. NDMO assessment report, released on April 5th, estimated that 24,000 HH had their houses severely (54%) or partially destroyed (46%) within the priority 1-2 provinces (Shefa, Tafea and Malampa).

Response

PREPAREDNESS and CAPACITY BUILDING

Multi-country and regional:

  • The Pacific Shelter Cluster team continues to raise key advocacy points at the regional level through the Pacific Humanitarian Team's (PHT) Regional Inter-Cluster Coordinator's Group (RICCG) and remained on standby to support National Shelter Cluster Leads across the region for potential response, as well as with preparedness and capacity building activities.
  • Contributed to the Pacific Humanitarian Team (PHT) Annual report for 2022.
  • Stockpiles of standard emergency shelter and essential household items are updated in STOCKHOLM platform, which has replaced PALM platform.
  • Maintained the Pacific Shelter Cluster, and National Shelter Cluster websites. https://www.sheltercluster.org/pacific

Vanuatu:

  • National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) is the lead of the Shelter Cluster and Vanuatu Red Cross Society the co-lead, with IFRC support.

Fiji:

  • National Shelter Cluster coordination arrangements are being revised.

RESPONSE

Vanuatu, TC Judy & TC Kevin:

National Level:

  • Back to back topical cyclones hit Vanuatu on the 1st and 3rd of March. A State of Emergency was declared nationally on March 5th.
  • Shelter Cluster was convened on March 5th, with a total of 32 partners.
  • Five different priority areas were established according to level of impact: priority 1 (Efate in Shefa prov. and Tafea prov), priority 2 (Shefa outer islands and Malampa prov), priority 3 (Pentecost island in Penama prov), priority 4(Maewo Island in Penama prov) and priority 5 (Sanma and Torba pro). 
  • NDMO assessment report released on April 5th estimated that 24,000 HH had their houses severely  (54%) or partially destroyed (46%) within Shefa, Tafea and Malampa provinces. 
  • 58,035 affected people (11,607 HH) have been assisted with a total of 24,233 emergency shelter items (including tarpaulins, rapid tool kits and shelter tool kits) and 3,703 Essential HH items (kitchen sets, blankets and mats) have been distributed, along with safe shelter awareness, key build back safer messages and EIC material on Use, re-use and disposal of tarpaulins.
  • IFRC Shelter Cluster Coordinator surge support arrived in country on march 8th, followed by a second rotation and an IFRC IM Shelter Cluster coordinator.
  • Shelter Cluster Strategy v1 agreed and endorsed on March 23, targeting 15,000 HH for Emergency Shelter and Essential Household items assistance.
  • Create and update the TC Judy/Kevin website

Regional Level

  • PHT Principals and Cluster Coordinator's meetings have been convened since the start of the response to support the Vanuatu Government-led response.
  • PHT support officially accepted by Vanuatu National Government.
  • Close coordination with national clusters in support of the National Response Plan (NRP).
  • PHT Humanitarian Needs and Priority (HNP) paper drafted as an annex to the NRP.

Gaps / challenges

Recurring challenges which hamper the support to National Clusters in the Pacific Region include:

  • Frequent turnover of key national shelter cluster coordination team members and shelter cluster members (both Government and humanitarian).
  • Inadequate funding available for widescale shelter preparedness, response, and recovery.
  • Transition to new national disaster risk management coordination arrangements in certain countries is currently in progress, and this has hampered leadership and functionality of the shelter cluster.

On May 5, Vanuatu Shelter Cluster facilitated a Good Practices and Lesson Learnt for the TC Judy & Kevin emergency response, that will inform the preparedness agenda for the following months.