Disasters
KEY UPDATES
- Countries and territories reporting mosquito-borne Zika virus infections for the first time in the past week:
o None
The investigation by the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand confirmed two cases of Zika-related microcephaly on 30 September 2016. This is the first time that Zikarelated microcephaly cases have been confirmed in Southeast Asia. The mothers reported no travel history to areas outside of Thailand.
The use of Cash Transfer Programming (CTP) to provide humanitarian assistance so that people may access the goods and services they need before, during and following a crisis has been gaining momentum over the past decade.
Despite the considerable use of cash and vouchers by government and non-state actors in major emergencies in Asia, the use of CTP in humanitarian response in the South Pacific islands has been relatively small-scale, and limited to only a few countries.
The latest Caritas State of the Environment Report for Oceania has found widespread hunger and thirst across the Pacific in 2015/2016. The report Hungry for justice, thirsty for change shows extreme weather events, combined with ongoing climatic changes, are contributing to a severe loss of food and water supplies in the region.
KEY UPDATES
Countries and territories reporting mosquito-borne Zika virus infections for the first time in the past week:
None - Mosquito-borne Zika infections acquired by travelers returning from the Maldives were reported by Germany and Spain in the past week. Prior Zika cases were reported in January 2016.
KEY UPDATES
Countries and territories reporting mosquito-borne Zika virus infections for the first time in the past week:
o Saint Kitts and Nevis
27SM Niue News: 2015 SPREP Annual Report is now launched
The SPREP Annual Report for 2015 is now available online having been presented at the 27th SPREP Meeting in Niue on Day one. The Report, available in both English and French outlines the activities and project implemented with members and partners in 2015 as the region strives to achieve the SPREP vision - a Pacific environment that sustains our livelihoods and natural heritage in harmony with our cultures.
Summary
The El Niño weather event has been in a neutral phase since May. Nevertheless, it continues to have a devastating impact on vulnerable people in parts of Eastern and Southern Africa, Asia and the Pacific, the Dry Corridor in Central America, and Haiti in the Caribbean. This event will also cause long term consequences for public health, nutrition, livelihoods, water and sanitation.
KEY UPDATES
Countries and territories reporting mosquito-borne Zika virus infections for the first time in the past week:
o None
Countries in the Western Pacific Region have been reporting new cases as seen in Singapore, Philippines and Malaysia.
Countries and territories reporting microcephaly and other central nervous system (CNS) malformations potentially associated with Zika virus infection for the first time in the past week:
o None
Key Updates
Countries and territories reporting mosquito-borne Zika virus infections for the first time in the past week:
o None
Malaysia, which previously reported Zika infections in 2014, has reported new mosquito-borne Zika virus infections in the past week
Countries and territories reporting microcephaly and other central nervous system (CNS) malformations potentially associated with Zika virus infection for the first time in the past week:
o None
Highlight – Reverse Osmosis Unit Retrieval
When drought strikes in RMI’s outer islands, Reverse Osmosis (RO) Units offer an essential source of potable water for communities in need. IOM, together with the Majuro Water and Sewer Company (MWSC), maintained a stock of 52 RO units that were deployed as needed throughout the RMI outer islands during the 2016 El-Niño induced drought.
KEY UPDATES
Countries and territories reporting mosquito-borne Zika virus infections for the first time in the past week:
None
Countries and territories reporting microcephaly and other central nervous system (CNS) malformations potentially associated with Zika virus infection for the first time in the past week:
Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and Haiti
Affected Populations
- 21,000 people affected by severe drought conditions.
- 1,257 households on the outer islands and 5,195 households in urban areas affected.
Areas of Cooperation
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), supplemental food assistance, education, training and capacity building
The Marshallese are no strangers to drought. In fact the last time they experienced severe drought was three years ago in 2013.
Pacific syndromic surveillance report
Week 31, ending 7 August 2016
The following syndromes have been flagged:
Summary
In November 2008, USAID assumed responsibility for disaster response and reconstruction in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), reflecting the transition of FSM and RMI from U.S.-administered trust territories to independent nations. Under the new arrangement, FEMA provides USAID with funding to conduct response and reconstruction activities following a U.S.
Severe drought in the Marshall Islands associated with the strong El Nino, led to the call for a Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA).
The assessment is not only the first for the Marshall Islands, it’s also the first for the Northern Pacific and the first assessment of an atoll country worldwide and will involve a lot of learning for the nation, the Pacific and the world.
