95639 Government of Solomon Islands SOLOMON Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods ISLANDS in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 July 2014 SOLOMON Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods ISLANDS in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 Government of Solomon Islands July 2014 Government of Solomon Islands Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination P.O Box G30 Honiara, Solomon Islands Tel: (677) 38255 And Ministry of Finance and Treasury P.O Box 26 Honiara, Solomon Islands Tel: (677) 21058 Published by: The World Bank Design: MikiFernandez / ULTRAdesigns Inc., Washington, D.C. Cover photo: Courtesy of UNOCHA Table of Contents Abbreviations and Acronyms viii Acknowledgements ix 1. Executive Summary 1 1.1 Summary of damage and loss 1 1.2 Summary of macroeconomic impact assessment 1 1.3 Flood risk management 2 1.4 Summary of recovery and reconstruction needs 2 1.5 Way forward 3 2. Introduction 5 2.1 Overview of floods 5 2.2 Socioeconomic context of Solomon Islands 5 2.3 Initial response 5 2.4 Methodology 6 2.5 The conceptual framework 6 3. Macroeconomic Impact 7 3.1 Summary of total effect 7 3.2 Pre-disaster economic outlook 7 3.2.1 Growth 8 3.2.2 Current account 8 3.2.3 Fiscal position 8 3.3 Post-disaster economic outlook 9 3.3.1 Growth 9 3.3.2 Current account 9 3.3.3 Fiscal impacts 9 4. Damage, Loss, and Needs 11 4.1 Transport 11 4.1.1 Description of the damage 11 4.1.2 Description of the losses 12 4.1.3 Damage and loss summary 12 4.1.4 Government recovery initiatives 12 4.1.5 Proposed recovery plan 13 iv / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 4.1.6 Potential funding options 14 4.1.7 Recommendation 14 4.2 Water, sanitation, and drainage 15 4.2.1 Rural service providers (RWSS, Guadalcanal Province EHD) 15 4.2.2 Urban service providers (Solomon Water, Honiara City Council EHD) 15 4.2.3 Drainage 16 4.2.4 Description of the damages 16 4.2.5 Description of the losses 16 4.2.6 Government recovery initiatives 17 4.2.7 Proposed recovery plan 18 4.2.8 Potential funding options 19 4.3 Agriculture 20 4.3.1 Description of the damages 21 4.3.2 Description of the losses 22 4.3.3 Damage and loss summary 23 4.3.4 Government recovery initiatives 24 4.3.5 Proposed recovery plan 24 4.3.6 Potential funding options 24 4.4 Housing 26 4.4.1 Description of the damages 26 4.4.2 Description of the losses 27 4.4.3 Government recovery initiatives 27 4.4.4 Proposed recovery plan 28 4.4.5 Potential funding options 29 4.5 Health and Education 29 4.5.1 Health 29 4.5.2 Education 29 4.5.3 Sector impacts 29 4.5.4 Description of the damages 29 4.5.5 Description of the losses 30 4.5.6 Damage and loss summary 31 4.5.7 Government recovery initiatives 31 4.5.8 Proposed recovery plan 31 4.5.9 Potential funding options 32 5. Managing Flood Risk and Building Urban Risk Resilience 35 5.1 Setting the context 35 5.1.1 National hazard setting 35 5.1.2 Urban and peri-urban risk setting 35 Table of Contents / v 5.1.3 Anatomy of a disaster: Underlying causes of the April 2014 flash floods 36 5.2 Breaking the cycle of increasing risk 38 5.3 Better understanding the risk 38 5.3.1 Flood hazard assessment 38 5.3.2 Vulnerable areas 40 5.4 Risk-reducing options 40 5.4.1 Modify the hazard 40 5.4.2 Modify exposure and vulnerability 41 5.4.3 Modify short-term responses 42 5.5 Intervention to address risk: Next steps for Building and Strengthening Urban Resilience (BSURE) strategy 42 6. Summary of Recovery and Reconstruction Needs 45 6.1 Recovery and reconstruction needs 45 6.2 Future funding requirements 45 Annexes Annex 1: List of People Consulted 49 Annex 2: Estimation of Damage to Transport Infrastructure 51 Annex 3: Location of Cuts to Road Access 55 Annex 4: List of Build Back Better Structures in Transport Sector 56 Annex 5: Seasonal Crop Calendar, Guadalcanal Province 57 Annex 6: Damage and Loss to Health Facilities (US$) 58 Annex 7: List of Schools with Reported Damage 59 Annex 8: Cycle of Increasing Risk 60 Annex 9: Benchmarking Current Flood Risk Management Practice 61 Institutional Aspects 63 Annex 10: References and Materials Consulted 67 vi / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 Figures Figure 1: Contribution of Damage and Loss to Total Effect 7 Figure 2: Total Damage and Loss, by Sector 7 Figure 3: Growth in Baseline vs. Post-Flood GDP (including Gold Ridge Mining Ltd.) 9 Figure 4: Change in Output (isolated flood impacts) 9 Figure 5: Breakdown of Damage and Loss for Water and Sanitation Sector 17 Figure 6: Damage to Livestock and Structures in Guadalcanal Province (as percentage of damage in sector) 21 Figure 7: Damage to Livestock and Structures in Honiara (as percentage of damage in sector) 21 Figure 8: Number of Households Sustaining Damage to Food Gardens 22 Figure 9: Distribution of Loss in the Crop Subsector 22 Figure 10: Loss in Livestock Production, by Commodity (SI$) 23 Figure 11: Damage and Losses in the Agriculture Sector 23 Figure 12: Location of Houses at Koa Hill Destroyed by Flooding 27 Figure 13: Health Losses by Source of Budget 30 Figure 14: Informal Settlement Straddling Guadalcanal Province/Honiara City Council 36 Figure 15: Analysis of Causes of the April 2014 Mataniko River Flood Disaster 37 Figure 16: Strategic Approach to Building and Strengthening Urban Resilience 38 Figure 17: Disaster Risk Management Organizational Arrangements 63 Tables Table 1: Summary of Damage and Loss 1 Table 2: Summary of Indicative Recovery and Reconstruction Costs (US$ million) 3 Table 3: Summary of Disaster Effects 7 Table 4: Baseline GDP 8 Table 5: Baseline Current Account Deficit 8 Table 6: Baseline Fiscal Aggregates (SI$ million) 8 Table 7: Potential Current Account Impacts of Gold Ridge Mine Closure (% GDP) 9 Table 8: Damage and Loss Summary for Transport (US$ million) 12 Table 9: Short-Term Recovery Needs for Transport 13 Table 10: Medium- and Long-Term Recovery Needs for Transport 13 Table 11: Potential Funding Sources and Financing Gap for Transport 14 Table 12: Summary Health Statistics for Water and Sanitation Sector 15 Table 13: Damage and Loss Summary for Water and Sanitation (US$ million) 17 Table 14: Short-Term Recovery Needs for Water and Sanitation Sector 18 Table 15: Medium- to Long-Term Recovery Needs for Water and Sanitation Sector 19 Table 16: Potential Funding Sources for Water and Sanitation Sector 19 Table 17: Pre-disaster Livestock in Guadalcanal Province and Honiara City 20 Table 18: Number of Livestock Lost in Guadalcanal Province and Honiara City 21 Table 19: Damage and Loss by Subsector (US$ million) 23 Table of Contents / vii Table 20: Short-Term Recovery Needs for Agriculture 24 Table 21: Medium- to Long-Term Recovery Needs for Agriculture 24 Table 22: Potential Funding Options for Agriculture 26 Table 23: Damage and Loss Summary for Housing 28 Table 24: Short-Term Recovery Needs for Housing 28 Table 25: Damage and Losses in Health and Education (US$ million) 31 Table 26: Short-Term Recovery Needs for Health and Education 32 Table 27: Medium- to Long-Term Recovery Needs for Health and Education 32 Table 28: Potential Funding Sources in Health and Education 33 Table 29: Building and Strengthening Urban Resilience Strategy 43 Table 30: Total Recovery and Reconstruction Needs (US$ million) 45 Table 31: Recovery & Reconstruction Needs 46 Table 32: Key Government Organizations Involved in Flood in Flood Risk Management in Honiara 65 viii / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (Exchange Rate Effective January 13, 2014) Currency Unit = Solomon Islands Dollar SI$7.32 = US$1 US$1.53 = SDR1 FISCAL YEAR January 1 – December 31 Abbreviations and Acronyms ADB Asian Development Bank BBB build back better BSURE Building and Strengthening Urban Resilience CHS community high school CLTS community-led total sanitation DRM disaster risk management ECLAC Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean EHD Environmental Health Division FOPA Festival of the Pacific Arts GDP gross domestic product HAP Humanitarian Action Plan MAL Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development MCA Ministry of Civil Aviation MDC municipal disaster committee MDPAC Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination MECDM Ministry of Environment Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology MEHRD Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development MHMS Ministry of Health and Medical Services MID Ministry of Infrastructure Development MFAT Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade New Zealand MLHS Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey MoFT Ministry of Finance and Treasury NDMO National Disaster Management Office NSS national secondary school NTF National Transport Fund PDC provincial disaster committee PSS provincial secondary school RWASH rural water, sanitation, and hygiene RWSS Rural Water Supply and Sanitation project SIWA Solomon Islands Water Authority RDB Rural Development Programme WASH water, sanitation, and hygiene WSPA World Society for the Protection of Animals / ix Acknowledgments This rapid assessment of the socioeconomic impacts of the recent flooding in Honiara and Guadalcanal would not have been possible without the dedication and support of Solomon Islands ministries and departments and their staff, who contributed both time and expertise. The drive and dedication of these individuals underpins the government-led approach to disaster risk management and is a model for improved coordination of efforts to promote a more resilient Solomon Islands. For their leadership, support, and cooperation Mr. Dentana McKinnie (MoFT), Ms. Samantha Cook throughout the assessment, special acknowledgment (Consultant, MECDM), Mr. Denis Jordy (Senior is extended to Mr. Jeremiah Manele, Permanent Environment Specialist, World Bank), Mr. Michael Bonte- Secretary of the Ministry of Development Planning Grapentin (Senior Disaster Management Specialist), and Aid Coordination (MDPAC); Dr. Melchior Mataki, Mr. Tobias Haque, (Economist, World Bank), Ms. Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Dominique Blariaux (Consultant, Food and Agriculture Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology Organization), Mr. Pivi Indrawansa (Senior Project Officer, (MECDM); and Shadrach Fanega, Permanent Secretary ADB), Mr. Paula Baleilevuka (Infrastructure Adviser, of the Ministry of Finance and Treasury (MoFT). ADB), Mr. Oliver Whalley (World Bank), Mr. Mat Thame (Consultant, UNICEF), Mr. Alan McNeil (Consultant, The assessment was prepared with financial World Bank), Mr. Stephen Yeo (Consultant, World Bank), support from the Africa Caribbean Pacific–European Dr. Colleen Butcher-Gollach (Consultant, World Bank); Union Natural Disaster Risk Reduction Program, which and the staff from the following ministries: Development is managed by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction Planning and Aid Coordination; Environment, Climate and Recovery. Technical and financial support came from Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology; the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and Infrastructure Development; Finance and Treasury; and various agencies of the United Nations. The assessment Agriculture and Livestock Development. A full list of the has greatly benefitted from the dedicated involvement assessment team and contributors is included in annex and valuable contributions of Mr. Daniel Rove (MDPAC), 1. To all of these contributors the team would like to Ms. Rose Kitau (MDPAC), Mr. Andrew Prakash (MDPAC), express its deepest gratitude and appreciation. x / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 Ita dumped intense rain on the Solomon Islands, leading to flash floods and landslides that killed 22 people, displaced 10,000 from their homes. and affected at least 50,000. Photo: credit Executive Summary / 1 1. Executive Summary A slow-moving tropical depression caused persistent heavy rains in the Solomon Islands between April 1 and April 4, 2014. The highest recorded daily rainfall associated with this event was 318mm in Honiara on April 3. The rains caused flash flooding in Honiara, Guadalcanal, Isabel, Malaita, and Makira-Ulawa. More than 732mm of rain was recorded over four days at the Honiara rain gauge, although heavier rainfall was reported inland. On April 5, as the system moved away from the Solomon Islands, it was upgraded to Tropical Cyclone Ita. 1.1 Summary of damage and loss 1.2 Summary of macroeconomic impact assessment The total economic value of the flooding’s impact is estimated at SI$787.3 million (US$107.8 million) The flooding is expected to have a substantial negative (see table 1). This is equivalent to 9.2 percent of gross impact on growth. It is expected that output will decline domestic product (GDP) in the Solomon Islands and by 5.1 percent from the pre-flood estimate. A substantial gives an indication of the scale of the flooding. proportion of the negative impact is due to closure of the Gold Ridge mine. Excluding the impacts of the Gold Ridge The sectors that sustained the highest level of closure, the negative impact is estimated at 2.7 percent. damage were housing and transport; these accounted Ignoring any positive impacts from reconstruction for 56 percent and 23 percent of damage, respectively. stimulus, growth for 2014 could be expected to decline In contrast, the greatest economic loss is expected in the from baseline projections of 4.0 percent to negative 1.1 mining sector (50 percent) and agriculture sector (31 percent. percent). Table 1: Summary of Damage and Loss Total Damage Total Damage Total Damage Total Loss and Loss and Loss % of Total Damage Sector (SB$ million) (SB$ million) (SB$ million) (US$ million) and Loss Social 223.4 16.7 240.1 32.9 31 Housing 213.2 5.6 218.8 30.0 28 Health & education 10.1 11.1 21.2 2.9 3 Productive 63.1 346.2 409.2 56.0 52 Agriculture 8.8 122.7 131.5 18.0 17 Commerce 54.3 21.0 75.3 10.3 10 Mining - 202.5 202.5 27.7 26 Infrastructure 95.8 41.0 136.8 18.7 17 Transport 87.6 16.1 103.7 14.2 13 Water & sanitation 8.3 24.9 33.2 4.5 4 Total 382.2 403.9 786.2 107.7 100 As a % of GDP 4.5 4.7 9.2     Source: Estimates are based on official data from the Solomon Islands government. 2 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 The current account deficit is expected to widen countries most vulnerable to natural hazards. Flood significantly as a result of isolated impacts of the flood. damage in Honiara City and Guadalcanal previously At this stage, the current account deficit is expected to occurred as a result of Cyclone Angela (1966), Cyclone increase by 2.6 percent in 2014, primarily due to the Glenda (1967), Cyclone Carlotta (1972), Cyclone Kerry closure of the Gold Ridge mine. (1979), Cyclone Bernie (1982), Cyclone Namu (1986), Cyclone Ului (2010), and Cyclone Yasi (2011), and as a Closure of the Gold Ridge mine is also responsible result of excessively heavy rainfall in 2008, 2009, and for the largest impact on government revenue: revenue 2010, and 2012. losses of around SI$120 million (US$ 16.4 million) are expected in fiscal year 2014. The aggregate revenue Priority activities and investments for managing flood loss, including revenue loss from the mine closure, is risk and strengthening urban risk resilience have been estimated at SI$193.2 million. Excluding the impacts of identified and clustered as follows: (i) actions to modify mine closure, the estimated revenue loss is around SI$34 the hazard (e.g., drainage works, river bank protection, million over the 2014 fiscal year. catchment forestation), (ii) actions to modify human use of floodplain (incentives, enforcement and education, 1.3 Flood risk management informal settlement upgrading), and (iii) actions to modify the human response to flooding (strengthening of the Twenty-two people lost their lives in flooding along the national flood warning system, hazard-proof evacuation Mataniko River caused by the heavy rains of April 1–4, centers). These key actions could form the basis for an 2014. A number of “near misses” were also reported, with urban flood risk management master plan. several people holding on to the apex of the church roof, and a boy surviving despite being washed downriver from Koa Hill to the sea. Had the flood occurred at night, 1.4 Summary of recovery and with houses fully occupied and the rising floodwaters reconstruction needs being more difficult for inhabitants to detect in the darkness, there might well have been hundreds of Table 2 summarizes the estimated costs for recovery fatalities. In addition to causing fatalities, the flooding and reconstruction. Total recovery and reconstruction destroyed 235 houses along the valley, washed away is estimated at SI$401 million (US$56.03 million). the Old Mataniko Bridge, and inundated classrooms at Of this amount, SI$99 million (US$14.59 million) is Honiara High School. Many businesses in Chinatown required in the short term (three to six months) with the were impacted by the flooding, including some that were remaining activities, including some “build back better” affected by extensive riverbank erosion. (BBB) initiatives, focused over the medium to long term (beyond six months). The serious impact of the disaster can largely be attributed to the exposure and vulnerability arising from Preliminary discussions among sectors and significant unregulated urbanization. More specifically, development partners indicate that US$13.58 million in it can be attributed to the many highly exposed houses aid may be available, which would reduce the recovery located on dangerously low ground such as Koa Hill— and reconstruction bill to US$41.5 million. In addition, and to the presence of low-resilience (traditional leaf) housing styles, which were disproportionately damaged some sectors—health and education as well as water (though the flood depths, velocities, and debris load were and sanitation—may be able to bear some of the costs such that even block concrete houses were destroyed at of damage repair from their sector budget support. The Koa Hill). Limited community response to warnings may of Development Planning and Aid Coordination and the also have contributed to the impact. Ministry of Finance and Treasury should establish with donor partners the full potential of their contributions. Flooding events of this type are unfortunately not Equally, line ministries should establish the level of unusual in the Solomon Islands, which is one of the 20 financial costs that can be absorbed from sector budgets. Executive Summary / 3 Table 2: Summary of Indicative Recovery and Reconstruction Costs (US$ million) Sector Short Term Medium to Long Term Total Transport 5.84 28.81 34.65a Water & sanitation 0.74 4.50 5.24b Agriculture 2.90 2.73 5.63c Housing 2.62 2.62 Health & education 1.49 5.42 6.91 Total 13.59 41.46 55.03 Source: Estimates are based on official data from the Solomon Islands government. a. Early indications suggest that US$12.08 million of this has already been sourced. Please refer to the discussion of transport (section 4.1). b. Around US$370,000 has been received from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australia and World Vision. Please refer to the discussion of water and sanitation (section 4.2). c. Approximately US$1.13 million indicated; see section 4.3 on the agriculture sector. 1.5 Way forward in rural areas). Particular attention should also be paid to the longer-term flood resilience of roads, The damage, loss, and needs assessment points to the bridges, and the Henderson Airport. following as key components to inform the government’s ■■ The underlying levels of hazard and vulnerability asso- recovery and reconstruction strategy: ciated with the floods must be addressed. Unplanned urban growth, high exposure of people and key public ■■ The loss of production from the premature closure assets to natural hazards and floods, low-resilience of Gold Ridge mine accounts for 26 percent of total housing standards, lack of an effective storm water loss. Loss of mine production will impact govern- management network, and inadequate community ment revenues and employment and also pose an early warning and response to flash floods are all is- environmental risk should the mine be left in its cur- sues that need attention. Short-term actions and next rent condition. The negative revenue implications of steps include flood hazard mapping, community con- the mine closure should be taken into account by the sultation to upgrade highly vulnerable informal set- government and donors when considering options tlements, design and implementation of a flash flood and financing sources for recovery needs. warning system for the Mataniko River, and establish- ■■ The Solomon Islands Water Authority (SIWA) will ment of a flood risk coordination mechanism. A lon- face severe financial constraints, including signifi- ger-term program will be needed to strengthen flood cantly higher operational costs while repairs are risk management and urban resilience. under way and may require additional support ■■ Reconstruction and recovery needs (detailed in chap- from the government. ter 6) and flood risk management needs (detailed ■■ The impact on livelihoods from damage to food gar- in chapter 5) provide a number of options for each dens is also concerning, given the many households sector that should be considered by the government. who rely on these gardens for both income and sub- Funding priorities should be established in consulta- sistence. In the short term, a higher-than-ordinary tion with the government and its development part- level of coordination will be required in the agricul- ners, possibly through a donor conference to establish ture sector to address identified needs, such as by the full potential of international assistance. Equally, providing seeds and tools to the most affected areas. line ministries should establish the level of financial ■■ Repairs to roads and bridges should be addressed cost that can be absorbed from existing sector budget as soon as possible to minimize the secondary im- support. Detailed recovery/resilience plans and pro- pacts to the greater economy (e.g., higher transpor- grams will be required for sectors where clear fund- tation costs, impaired access to goods produced ing options have been identified. The flooding was the worst in living memory in some locations. It caused 22 fatalities across the country, internally displaced some 10,000 people initially, and affected approximately 52,000 people in total. It also damaged major infrastructure and destroyed 675 houses along with the food gardens that many people depend upon for their livelihood. Henderson International Airport, inundated runway. Photo: RAMSI / 5 2. Introduction 2.1 Overview of floods average annual real GDP grew by 4.9 percent, driven by a consolidation of government finances, the accumulation A slow-moving tropical depression caused persistent of significant foreign exchange reserves despite ongoing heavy rains in the Solomon Islands between April 1 trade deficits, and easing inflationary pressures. These and April 4, 2014. The highest recorded daily rainfall conditions were the result of a supportive external associated with this event was 318mm in Honiara on environment in the wake of the 2009 global financial April 3. The rains caused flash flooding in Honiara, crisis, as well as continued strong donor support. Guadalcanal, Isabel, Malaita, and Makira-Ulawa. More than 732mm of rain was recorded over four days at the Honiara rain gauge, although heavier rainfall was 2.3 Initial response reported inland. On April 5, 2014, as the system moved away from the Solomon Islands, it was upgraded to In the wake of the flooding, Honiara City and Guadalcanal Tropical Cyclone Ita. Province were declared a disaster zone. On April 5, the Solomon Islands government requested international The flooding was the worst in living memory in emergency assistance to aid relief efforts. some locations. It caused 22 fatalities across the country, internally displaced some 10,000 people initially, and The Solomon Islands government has worked with affected approximately 52,000 people in total. It also the international community, civil society organizations, damaged major infrastructure and destroyed 675 houses and other stakeholders to address humanitarian along with the food gardens that many people depend response needs. The government has sought assistance upon for their livelihood. from Pacific Humanitarian Team personnel (which is led by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs), and has also requested supplies to 2.2 Socioeconomic context of Solomon support response efforts. As part of Pacific Humanitarian Islands Team support and through the Australian government– funded Pacific Risk Resilience Programme, the United The estimated population of the Solomon Islands is Nations Development Programme has provided early- 515,870, and its estimated growth rate is 2.3 percent recovery technical advice to the Ministry of Provincial (Solomon Islands National Statistics Office 2009). The Development and surge capacity to the National Disaster population is spread across 845 islands of the 992 islands Management Office (NDMO). The Secretariat of the that make up the country and that cover an area of Pacific Community has provided disaster coordination 24,000km2. With 80 percent of the total population living capacity support to the NDMO as part of package to assist in rural areas, disaster response is often time-consuming the government with response and long-term recovery. and expensive; high post-disaster transportation costs place a significant burden on the government and have Approximately SI$58 million (US$7.9 million) has led to delays in the distribution of relief goods in the past. been donated by development partners, international organizations, local nongovernmental organizations, The Solomon Islands economy is largely based on businesses, and individuals in the form of cash grants services (around 40 percent of GDP), agriculture (around and aid in-kind (e.g., hygiene kits, tarpaulins, water 15 percent of GDP), and forestry (around 15 percent purification tablets). of GDP). Manufacturing remains a minuscule sector, and much of the population depends on subsistence The Solomon Islands government has authorized the agriculture for their livelihoods. In the last five years, release of SI$5 million (US$685,000) from the contingency 6 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 fund to facilitate initial response and relief activities. An 2.5 The conceptual framework additional contingency warrant of SI$9 million (US$1.2 million) has been approved; approximately SI$6 million The methodology used for assessing the effects of a (US$822,000) is being provided by Papua New Guinea. disaster or extreme event proceeds from the bottom up: information about the effects of the event is captured The disaster relief budget allocated to the National sector by sector, and the data are aggregated to arrive Disaster Council is small—SI$1.9 million (US$260,000)— at the event’s total effect on society and the economy. and was quickly exhausted following the floods. This is the The methodology makes use of a country’s national second year in a row that a single disaster has exhausted accounting framework for valuation of the damage and not only the relief budget but also the operational loss and for categorization of the effects. budget of the council. The fiscal year is the same as the calendar year; both the floods in 2014 and the Santa Cruz The effects are described as damage and losses. In earthquake in 2013 occurred in the first four months of keeping with the standard definitions, damage is the the year, leaving the NDMO with only enough funds to “total or partial destruction of physical assets existing in cover its fixed costs for the remainder of the year. This the affected area. Damage occurs during and immediately situation is potentially serious since another hazard event after the disaster and is measured in physical units (… could affect the Solomon Islands in 2014. square meters of housing, kilometres of roads…). Its monetary value is expressed in terms of replacement costs according to prices prevailing just before the event”. 2.4 Methodology Losses are “changes in economic flows arising from the disaster. They occur until full economic recovery and This assessment was conducted by a multidisciplinary, reconstruction is achieved, in some cases lasting for multi-agency team—comprising the World Bank, Global several years. Typical losses include the decline in output Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, Asian in productive sectors (agriculture, livestock, fisheries, Development Bank (ADB), UN agencies, and other industry, commerce, tourism)” (GFDRR 2010, 2:2). relevant stakeholders—that consulted with the Solomon Islands government. The assessment team was able to Estimating the damage and loss is one of the critical use the results of the initial damage assessments and components of the assessment methodology. A second the Humanitarian Action Plan (HAP) (Solomon Islands critical component is analyzing the event’s impact on the Government 2014). A full list of references can be found economy and society; drawn mainly from the estimate of at the end of this report. losses, this analysis can be used in planning for recovery and reconstruction. The value of damage is used as the The damage and loss methodology was developed basis for estimating reconstruction needs, while the by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin value of losses provides the means for estimating the America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), based on its work in financial needs for economic recovery. Central America in the early 1970s and in the Caribbean in the 1980s and 1990s. This methodology has evolved The ultimate goal of the assessment is to measure over time, and the Guidance Notes for Damage, Loss in monetary and social terms the disaster’s impact on and Needs Assessment (GFDRR 2010) and the recently the society, economy, and environment of the affected revised Handbook for Disaster Assessment (ECLAC 2014) country or region. This information in turn makes it have been used to guide this assessment. possible to quantify the financial needs for economic recovery and reconstruction with risk reduction. / 7 3. Macroeconomic Impact 3.1 Summary of total effect The total economic value of the effects caused by the Solomon Islands and gives an indication of the scale of flooding is estimated at SI$787.3 million (US$107.8 the flooding (see table 3). million). This is equivalent to 9.2 percent of GDP in the Table 3: Summary of Disaster Effects Total Damage & Total Damage & Total Damage Total Loss (SB$ % of Total Damage Sector Loss Loss (SB$ million) million) and Loss (SB$ million) (US$ million) Social 223.4 16.7 240.1 32.9 31 Housing 213.2 5.6 218.8 30.0 28 Health & education 10.1 11.1 21.2 2.9 3 Productive 63.1 346.2 409.2 56.0 52 Agriculture 8.8 122.7 131.5 18.0 17 Commerce 54.3 21.0 75.3 10.3 10 Mining - 202.5 202.5 27.7 26 Infrastructure 95.8 41.0 136.8 18.7 17 Transport 87.6 16.1 103.7 14.2 13 Water & sanitation 8.3 24.9 33.2 4.5 4 Total 382.2 403.9 786.2 107.7 100 As a % of GDP 4.5 4.7 9.2     Source: Estimates are based on official data from the Solomon Islands government. Just over half (51 percent) of the total effect is Figure 1: Contribution of Damage and Loss to Total attributable to loss, and just under half (49 percent) Effect is attributable to damage (see figure 1). The majority of damage and loss—52 percent—came from the productive sectors, mostly mining and agriculture (figure 2). To stimulate future growth, appropriate recovery 51% 49% n Damage and reconstruction plans will need to be developed that n Loss address the needs in these sectors. Damage was largely incurred in the transport and housing sector. Work has begun to repair access Figure 2: Total Damage and Loss, by Sector roads, and owners of private dwellings are expected to have begun repairs to their own homes. The repair to 17% both these sectors is expected to boost growth in the commercial sector. 31% n Social n Productive n Infrastructure 52% 3.2 Pre-disaster economic outlook This section discusses the pre-disaster economic outlook Source: Estimates are based on official data from the Solomon Islands for the Solomon Islands and gives a brief overview of the government. 8 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 baseline projections for output, the current account, and Growth of 3 percent in 2013 reflected unsupportive the central government’s fiscal position. export prices during the first half of the year and associated weakening of key commodity production. 3.2.1 Growth Declines in logging and gold output—driven by low Growth of 4.0 percent in 2014 was projected on the prices, interruptions to production at the Gold Ridge basis of steady production at the Gold Ridge mine and mine, and (possibly) the depletion of natural forest improvements in logging and agricultural production. stocks—were not completely offset by improvements Following the rapid growth in 2010 and 2011, which in export commodity prices and production during the was driven by expansion of gold and strong timber second half of the year. The baseline GDP for the five production, growth moderated to 3.8 percent in 2012. years beginning in 2011 is shown in table 4. Table 4: Baseline GDP 2011 2012 2013 2014 (F) 2015 (F) Nominal GDP (SI$ billion) 6,637 7,281 7,946 8,800 9,345 Real GDP growth (%) 10.7 3.8 3.0 4.0 3.6 Source: Based on official data from the Solomon Islands government. 3.2.2 Current account 3.2.3 Fiscal position The current account deficit was expected to widen to Before the flooding of April 2014, the government was 13 percent of GDP in 2014. In December 2013, foreign forecasting a balanced budget for 2014. The Ministry exchange reserves reached a new peak of SI$3,555 of Finance and Treasury (MoFT), realizing a surplus of million (US$487 million), up from SI$3,431 million approximately SI$175 million in fiscal year 2013 (the (US$470 million) at the end of 2012. This amount result of underspending in the consolidated development provides over 11 months of import cover, which will budget), projected a balanced budget for the year. Cash help to provide a buffer to protect the Solomon Islands reserves stood at around SI$600 million (US$82 million) from adverse movements in global prices. The baseline immediately before the flooding, comfortably above the current account deficit for the five years beginning in International Monetary Fund benchmark floor of SI$411 2011 is shown in table 5. million (US$56 million). Baseline fiscal aggregates for the five years starting in 2011 are shown in table 6. Table 5: Baseline Current Account Deficit 2011 2012 2013 2014 (F) 2015 (F) Current account deficit (% GDP) 6.7 +0.2 (surplus) 4.2 13.0 12.4 Source: Based on official data from the Solomon Islands government. Table 6: Baseline Fiscal Aggregates (SI$ million) FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 (F) FY15 (F) Total revenue & grants 2,713.7 3,164.3 3,139.4 3,502.3 3,580.9 Tax revenue 2,076.6 2,282.2 2,420.1 2,610.3 2,793.1 Non-tax revenue 205.4 196 227.6 227.6 230.6 Recurrent grants 267.5 171.8 276.8 584.4 342.8 Development grants 164.2 514.3 214.9 80 214.4 Expenditure 2,393.1 3,309.3 3,021.9 3,503 3,580.7 Recurrent 1,870 2,402.1 2,318 2,861.9 2,692.3 Development 523.1 907.2 703.9 641.1 888.4 Fiscal balance (including grants) 320.6 -145.0 175.2 -0.7 0.2 Cash balance     602.0 601.3 601.5 Source: Based on official data from the Solomon Islands government. 3. Macroeconomic Impact / 9 3.3 Post-disaster economic outlook closure, the negative impact is estimated at 2.7 percent, as shown in figure 4. This section presents the estimated impacts of the Honi- ara flooding on economic growth, the government’s fiscal Figure 4: Change in Output (isolated flood impacts) position, and the balance of payments. It is important to 0% With Excluding note that any consideration of potential positive impacts -1% GRML GRML on growth, revenue, and the balance of payments aris- ing from government or donor responses to the flooding -2% Percentage have been omitted. These estimates should be viewed as -3% -2.7% providing a sense of the scale of negative impacts, rather -4% than a forecast of likely outcomes. -5% 3.3.1 Growth -5.1% -6% Ignoring any positive impacts from reconstruction Change in output for 2014 stimulus, growth for 2014 could be expected to decline from baseline projections of 4.0 percent to negative 3.3.2 Current account 1.1 percent. If positive impacts from recovery activities The current account deficit is expected to widen are taken into account, we estimate GDP growth of 0.1 significantly as a result of isolated negative impacts of percent in 2014. This is illustrated in figure 3. the flood. A 2.6 percent increase in the current account deficit is expected in 2014, primarily because the Gold Figure 3: Growth in Baseline vs. Post-Flood GDP Ridge mine has been closed. Impacts over the medium- (including Gold Ridge Mining Ltd.) term will depend on whether the mine reopens. Table Real GDP Growth 5% 7 shows potential impacts if the mine remains closed 4.0% 4% 3.80% at the end of 2014 and also under a permanent closure 3.0% 3% scenario. Both scenarios assume no positive or negative Percentage 2% impacts from donor inflows. 1% 0.10% 0% 3.3.3 Fiscal impacts 2012 2013 2014 P 2014 2014 -1% The largest impact on revenue comes from the closure (Isolated) (Aggregate) -2% -1.1% of the Gold Ridge mine. The closure is likely to result in Year revenue losses of around SI$120 million (US$16 million) The flooding is expected to have a substantial in fiscal year 2014. Additional revenue losses will arise negative impact on growth. We estimate that the floods from the loss of output for businesses supplying the will cause a reduction in output of 5.1 percent from the mine, and from disruption of business activity and lost pre-flood baseline in 2014. A substantial proportion of profits outside the mining sector. The aggregate revenue the negative impact of the floods is through closure of loss, including revenue loss from closure of the mine, the Gold Ridge mine. Excluding impacts of Gold Ridge is SI$193.2 million ($US 26.5 million). Excluding the Table 7: Potential Current Account Impacts of Gold Ridge Mine Closure (% GDP) Temporary Closure Permanent Closure Flood impact relative to baseline 2014 2015 2016 2014 2015 2016 Baseline CAD -13.0 -12.4 -11.9 -13.0 -12.4 -11.9 Post-flood CAD -15.6 -13.5 -12.9 -15.6 -15.4 -14.7 Change in CAD, % GDP -2.60 -1.10 -1.00 -2.60 -3.00 -2.80 Forex reserves (SI$ million) -157 -153 -150 -157 -331 -506 Source: Based on official data from the Solomon Islands government. Note: CAD = current account deficit; forex = foreign exchange. 10 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 impacts of the mine, we estimate revenue loss of around Bank of Solomon Islands) and managed by the National SI$34 million over the fiscal year. Disaster Committee has been used to finance a further SI$2.3 million (US$315,000) for emergency recovery Fiscal costs to date have been relatively minor. needs. SI$15 million in constituency fund allocations has SI$5 million (US$685,000) has been spent from the been distributed to members of Parliament to assist with NDMO recurrent budget allocation. An additional SI$6 recovery needs; these funds are expected to be recouped million (US$820,000) has been accessed through the from budget support pledged by Taiwan. contingency fund. A flash appeal account (held at Central The largest impact on revenue comes from the closure of the Gold Ridge mine. The closure is likely to result in revenue losses of around SI$120 million (US$16 million) in fiscal year 2014. Additional revenue losses will arise from the loss of output for businesses supplying the mine, and from disruption of business activity and lost profits outside the mining sector. Ignoring any positive impact from reconstruction, growth for 2014 could be expected to decline from baseline projection to negative 1.1 percent. Gold Ridge mine. Photo: Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s (SPC) Applied Geoscience and Technology Division (SOPAC) / 11 4. Damage, Loss, and Needs 4.1 Transport Land subsector. A combination of large flows and debris buildup caused extensive damage to bridges in the The government’s vision for the transport sector network: piers, abutments, approaches, scour protection, is effective transport infrastructure and services and service connections all sustained damage. The Old that support sustained economic growth and social Mataniko Bridge in Honiara’s central business district development in the Solomon Islands. The country’s was completely washed away, and erosion occurred at transport sector includes land, maritime, and aviation the eastern approach to the new Mataniko Bridge, the subsectors. Investment in the transport sector is only bridge connecting East and West Honiara. Two of prioritized in the National Transport Plan 2010 nine upstream piers of the Mberande Bridge in East and financed through a combination of grants and Guadalcanal were damaged, and bridge approaches normal budget appropriation. The National Transport in several bridges in Guadalcanal, Makira, and Isabel Fund (NTF) is the main source of funding for the Provinces collapsed or were washed away. transport sector. The government of New Zealand, the government of Japan, the European Union, and Headwalls and wing walls of several box and pipe the ADB are also investing in the transport sector culverts and causeway approaches were damaged, but are not contributing to the NTF, opting instead and several culverts were completely washed away to directly finance projects through parallel funding due to excessive flows. The accumulation of debris arrangements. The government’s capital and recurrent and sediments blocked roadside drainage, and some budgets, supplemented by grants from the government of Australia, provide the funds for the NTF. channels were eroded. The government has invested significantly in Because of overtopping floodwaters and the transport infrastructure, with budget allocations of resulting erosion, road shoulders were damaged and SI$100 million (US$13.7 million) in 2012 and SI$118 potholes were created in the roadway. Landslides were million (US$16.16 million) in 2013. The majority of the also recorded in Honiara, West Guadalcanal Road toward funding allocated is for the rehabilitation and maintenance Lambi, and Isabel Province. Where the road formation of roads and bridges and reconstruction of wharves and was submerged for an extended period after the flooding, jetties. Responsibility for the transport sector lies with degradation of the pavement will be accelerated, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID) for observable at first as widespread potholing, rutting, and land and maritime subsectors and with the Ministry of cracking of pavement before eventual failure. Civil Aviation (MCA) for the aviation subsector. In summary, access was cut off at one location in The transport infrastructure affected by the April Honiara, two locations in East Guadalcanal, eight locations 2014 floods included the road and bridge network across along West Guadalcanal, and one location along the Buala- Guadalcanal, Makira, Malaita, and Isabel Provinces; the Garanga Road in Isabel Province. A map showing cutoff international and domestic terminals at Henderson locations in East to West Guadalcanal is in annex 3. Airport in Honiara; and the market wharf in Honiara. Aviation subsector. Henderson Airport in Honiara 4.1.1 Description of the damage was closed for two days due to submergence of the This section describes the physical damage observed runway and apron. Floodwater damaged a 500m length following the April 2014 Solomon Islands floods. A of the airport fence and deposited debris on the runway. detailed list of transport infrastructure damaged due to Damage was also recorded to the drainage culvert floods is in annex 2. outlet, domestic terminal and offices, runway markings, 12 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 runway lighting system, perimeter road, back road, outer weather hit in Honiara on April 3—about 140 vessels, drainage, and domestic car park. including 40 fishing vessels, were in operation in the territorial seas. The heavy weather, wind, and swell Maritime subsector. Significant damage occurred affected the vessels for about 96 hours after the storm to the central market wharf in Honiara. The bow of a had passed. Of the 140 vessels, 9 were blown ashore on small ship severed the landward span of the wharf, and Guadalcanal around Honiara port. Six of these vessels the concrete slab of the wharf collapsed onto the beach have since been refloated, while three have been recorded below. The Solomon Islands Ports Authority confirms as a total loss. Cargo operations were severely hampered that the wharf was not operational prior to the disaster, for about 12 hours because of debris at Honiara port. however, so the impact of the damage is considered The revenue losses arising from operational delays are minimal. the main contributor to the losses in the maritime sector. 4.1.2 Description of the losses 4.1.3 Damage and loss summary Land subsector. Economic losses for road transportation Table 8 summarizes the cost of damage to transport include increased travel times as a result of congestion infrastructure and the value of losses attributed to the and alternative routes, as well as direct payments damage. The cost of the damage includes (i) emergency required by some landowners for use of road diversions costs to restore connectivity, and (ii) the cost of restoring at cutoff locations. Vehicle operating costs will also structures to their pre-disaster state. increase due to poor road conditions and diversions. The majority of the loss is attributed to the unprecedented Given that there are no records of privately owned congestion at the new Mataniko Bridge, a result of the Old transport infrastructure (such as logging roads), the Mataniko Bridge being washed away. Increased travel responsibility for the costs of damage and losses falls times prevailed until completion of the temporary Bailey entirely on the government. The damage to the central bridge at the Old Mataniko Bridge site in June 2014. Bus market wharf in Honiara is not included in table 8 operators continue to lose revenue because travel delays because, as explained above, the wharf was not an have reduced the number of trips they can make per day. operational prior to the disaster. Aviation subsector. Aviation sector losses are those The losses from damage to shipping vessels and the incurred due to the two-day closure of the international revenue loss of bus operators have not been included and domestic terminals of Henderson Airport in Honiara. in table 1. They are covered separately under the The main losses are (i) revenue loss due to cancellation commercial sector. of international and domestic flights, and (ii) disruption loss due to rescheduling of flights both in international 4.1.4 Government recovery initiatives and domestic segments. The government has directly procured materials, machines, and labor to construct a temporary bridge Maritime subsector. At the time when the weather over the unsupported eastern approach slab to the warning was issued—about 72 hours before the worst new Mataniko Bridge. The government has waived the Table 8: Damage and Loss Summary for Transport (US$ million) Damage Losses Total Land 8.49 2.26 10.75 Aviation 1.40 0.26 1.66 Maritime – 4.50 4.50 Total 9.89 7.02 16.91 Source: Ministry of Infrastructure Development; Ministry of Civil Aviation; Solomon Islands Ports Authority; Solomon Islands Maritime Safety Authority. Note: – = negligible. 4. Damage, Loss, and Needs / 13 normal procurement process to allow shopping for additional two lane bridge upstream of new Mataniko emergency repair works at other sites. The initial focus Bridge and a two lane bridge at Old Mataniko bridge site. is on restoring connectivity. Construction of the new bridges will commence in April 2015 rather than August 2015 as originally proposed. Through MID, the government has designed and called tenders for three emergency-repair contract A contract package has been prepared to repair packages to restore connectivity in West Guadalcanal. damage to Henderson Airport, and the government These contracts will likely be awarded by early May has asked donor partners for additional financing to 2014, and work will commence immediately afterwards. make transport infrastructure more resilient to natural hazards. At the request of the government, the government of New Zealand has pledged assistance to supply and 4.1.5 Proposed recovery plan erect a new single-lane Bailey bridge at the Old Mataniko Short-term recovery. The priority for the transport sector Bridge site. A New Zealand–based contractor (Downer is to restore connectivity to essential services such as New Zealand) has been commissioned to carry out the hospitals, schools, markets, and the main commercial project. Preliminary work for construction of the center centers in Honiara. The estimated total cost of short- pier is in progress, with the entire structure likely to be term recovery for emergency repairs is given in table 9. completed by late June 2014. Medium- to long-term recovery. The medium- to long- The Government has requested the Government of term recovery needs are included in table 10. Medium- Japan to advance the proposed assistance to improve term needs represent the cost of returning the damaged Kukum Highway which includes construction of an transport assets to their pre-flood condition. Long-term Table 9: Short-Term Recovery Needs for Transport Activity Needs (US$ million) Repair to unpaved roads 0.05 Repair to paved roads 1.83 Repair to bridges 2.36 Repair to culverts and road-related drainage 0.21 Repair to Henderson Airport 1.39 Total 5.84 Source: Ministry of Infrastructure Development; Ministry of Civil Aviation. Table 10: Medium- and Long-Term Recovery Needs for Transport Medium-Term Needs Long-Term Needs (BBB) Activity (US$ million) (US$ million) Repair to damaged unpaved roads 0.23 Repair to damaged paved roads 0.52 Repair to damaged bridges 2.66 Repair to damaged culverts and related drainage 0.64 Improvements to bridges, including climate change proofing 23.89 Improvements to culverts, including climate change proofing 0.88 Improvements to Henderson Airport (ring levee and associated drainage) 1.00 Total 4.05 25.77 Source: Ministry of Infrastructure Development. 14 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 needs represent the cost of building back better—that debris removal to ensure access to affected communities is, reconstructing the damaged transport assets to awaiting humanitarian assistance. incorporate climate proofing and disaster risk reduction measures. The time frame for medium-term needs is six 4.1.7 Recommendation months to one year. The BBB option requires a longer The following short-term, medium-term, and long-term time frame for necessary geotechnical, engineering, recovery strategies are recommended. economic, environmental, and climate change impact analysis. For short-term recovery (up to 6 months): ■■ Continue rapid restoration of roads, bridges, cul- A preliminary list of land transport infrastructure verts, and the Henderson Airport to basic trafficable identified for the BBB option is in annex 4. condition. Once several contract packages prepared by MID and MCA are approved, private sector con- 4.1.6 Potential funding options tractors will commence these works. The 2014 work plan for MID includes SI$10 million (US$1.39 million) as a contingency reserve for new Use national private sector consulting resources for emergency repairs in 2014. The MCA can request construction supervision. Doing so will guard against the funding for emergency repair works at Henderson pitfalls of implementing a large volume of restoration Airport through the NTF. The government will reassess work over a relatively short period of time, most notably repair priority to include the repair of damage caused by the April 2014 flooding. The estimated cost of erecting a lack of attention to quality requirements, with a a Bailey bridge at the old Mataniko Bridge site with consequent reduced service life of the investment. assistance from the New Zealand government is US$0.69 million. The estimated cost of having the government of ■■ When carrying out reconstruction, keep in mind Japan construct two bridges across the Mataniko River is lessons learned from the impact of this flood on estimated to be US$10 million. transport infrastructure assets. To determine if restoration to pre-flood conditions is sufficient, The summary of recovery needs, potential funding commence studies of upstream river catchment sources, and the financing gap for the transport sector is activities, hydraulic design, alternative pavements, included in table 11. resilient structures accommodating climate change adaptation, and disaster risk reduction measures. The ADB has offered the government US$200,000 ■■ Commence studies on long-term flood protection for life-preserving activities through the Asia Pacific measures at Henderson Airport. It is noted that Disaster Response Fund. MID can ask the MoFT for part of Henderson airport is frequently inundated even by the proceeds from this grant to use for site clearance and ordinary weather events. Table 11: Potential Funding Sources and Financing Gap for Transport Recovery Needs (US$ Potential Funding Sources million) Source (government or donors) Funding (US$ million) Financing Gap (US$ million) Short term 5.84 National Transport Fund 1.39 3.76 Government of New Zealand 0.69 Medium term 4.05 – – 4.05 Long term 24.77 Government of Japan 10.0 14.77 Total 34.66 12.08 22.58 Source: Ministry of Infrastructure Development. Note: - = negligible. 4. Damage, Loss, and Needs / 15 For medium-term recovery and reconstruction: ■■ The RWASH Policy, which was approved by the cab- inet in 2014. ■■ Procure contracts and commence reconstruction ac- tivities based on a sensible prioritization of works. ■■ A draft Strategic Plan for RWASH 2015–2020 (still This approach ensures that the most critical works in development) are done first. ■■ A Capacity Development Roadmap and Technical ■■ In conjunction with relevant agencies, complete Assistance needs assessment the resilience-related studies. Hydraulic studies for ■■ A RWSS Transition Plan 2013–2015 the Mataniko River and other river basins should be a particular focus. Findings from these studies Approximately 80 percent of Solomon Islanders should be progressively input into the designs for live in rural villages, where 65 percent of residents the remaining reconstruction works. have access to safe water (35–40 percent functioning water supply systems) and 18 percent of residents have For long-term recovery and reconstruction: access to improved sanitation facilities (RWSS 2014a). ■■ Continue with the reconstruction works, ensuring Estimating the impact of the flooding on water and that supervision and quality control are adequate. sanitation services is difficult, since the only pre-disaster data available (from the 2009 census) have to do with ■■ Progressively adopt and mainstream the results of access, not level of service or the condition of the assets. the resilience-related studies into all road design But anecdotal evidence suggests that most assets are in and construction activities. poor condition. 4.2 Water, sanitation, and drainage According to ISF-UTS (2011), “Diarrhoea remains Before the early April flood, there were two major a leading cause of death in the Solomon Islands, service providers of water and sanitation in the Solomon contributing to 7% of mortalities in 2002. The Solomon Islands: the Solomon Islands Water Authority, also called Islands ranks toward the bottom of Pacific countries Solomon Water, which is a state-owned enterprise; and for all WASH‐related health statistics.” (See table 12 for the providers falling under the Environmental Health summary health statistics). Division (EHD) of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS). The latter includes the Honiara City Table 12: Summary Health Statistics for Water and Sanitation Sector Council EHD, the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation project (RWSS), and the Guadalcanal Province EHD. Infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 births) 36 WASH‐related DALYs (% of all DALYs) 9% Currently, both Solomon Water and the RWSS Total WASH-related DALYs (years) 7,826 are engaged in long-term reform programs. These Total WASH-related deaths per year 197 institutions have limited capacity and are under WASH-related proportion of deaths 8% pressure to meet existing program outputs. Resourcing Source: ISF‐UTS 2011, citing World Bank and World Health Organization. of additional recovery and reconstruction programs Note: DALY = disability adjusted life year. must not divert focus from existing long-term reform programs; on the contrary, every opportunity must be 4.2.2 Urban service providers (Solomon Water, taken to strengthen them. Honiara City Council EHD) In August 2010, the Solomon Islands government 4.2.1 Rural service providers (RWSS, Guadalcanal replaced the SIWA board, and in April 2011, with the Province EHD) support of the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility, To support the priorities in rural water, sanitation, an interim general manager and interim financial and and hygiene (RWASH), the MHMS and its partners/ administration manager were appointed. The two interim stakeholders have developed the following: managers prepared a short-term recovery and action 16 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 plan to guide urgent reforms to SIWA’s organization, United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination finances, and operations. The plan was presented to the has assessed the situation and its environmental impacts, government and development partners and endorsed by and the assessment has been passed on to the Solomon the SIWA board in May 2011. Islands government. Following a request from the Solomon Islands 4.2.4 Description of the damages government, the Australian government agreed to fund It was difficult to ascertain the level of damage in rural the recovery and action plan’s implementation from Guadalcanal Province, due to a lack of pre-disaster September 2011 onward. The improvements under data, and resourcing constraints following the flooding. the plan should have been or were concluded in March However, data from initial assessments suggest 2014. In addition, Solomon Water and the Australian that around 1,000 shallow unprotected wells in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade agreed to floodplains of East Guadalcanal were inundated with silt develop and implement a long-term partnership in two and trash and suffered significant damage. There was phases: a two-year phase starting in May 2013, based also inundation damage to improved sanitation facilities, on corporate planning and program design activities in but the relatively low coverage of facilities in the country 2012–2013; and a five-year phase starting in 2015, based (18 percent) means the extent of damage is quite low. on corporate planning and program design activities in 2014–2015. Assessments also indicated that there has been significant damage to the gravity feed and rainwater Solomon Water was created under the Solomon catchment systems. Because these covered only 37 Islands Water Authority Act (1993) to provide water percent of the population before the disaster and were and sewerage services in urban areas of the country poorly maintained, distinguishing the damage directly (currently Honiara and three provincial centers). It is attributable to the flooding from already existing subject to the State-Owned Enterprises Act (2007), damage has been difficult. The cost of damage identified has a board of directors, and reports to the minister of in this assessment includes direct damage such as flood- Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification and the minister induced landslides, scouring of dam foundations and of Finance. Solid waste management is limited to the pipelines, reticulation damage, and damages to guttering Greater Honiara region and is overseen by Honiara City and water tanks. Council EHD with assistance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade New Zealand. The damage to the urban infrastructure was limited, but the effect of this damage on operational capacity and 4.2.3 Drainage service delivery has been large. Damage to the Kongulai No drainage infrastructure exists outside the transport gravity main has required installation of additional cross and agriculture sectors. Damage and loss in the connections in White River on a temporary basis. Other transport and agriculture sectors are addressed in their minor damage to water infrastructure included loss of respective chapters. In light of the flood damage and some 300 revenue meters and destruction of sections of the recommendations of the flood risk management the small-diameter distribution network. The sewerage specialist, drainage—and in particular storm-water system suffered from flooding, blockages, and overflow, management—should be investigated. This is beyond the and seven sea outfalls were damaged by debris such scope of this assessment, however. A medium- to long- as logs and timber. Municipal septic tanks operated by term recommendation would be to develop a drainage Solomon Water have been affected by debris and other master plan for Honiara city. solids being washed into them. During our assessment we were unable to obtain 4.2.5 Description of the losses information on damage to the drainage infrastructure The majority of loss incurred in rural Guadalcanal and tailings dams at the Gold Ridge mine. A team from Province was due to the extensive use of existing RWSS 4. Damage, Loss, and Needs / 17 warehouse materials, which were used following the costs coupled with reduced revenue. This situation will flooding and will require replacement. Additional likely continue until November–December 2014. The labor costs during the emergency response, along with current budget projections suggest that Solomon Water will additional hygiene promotion and associated materials, incur significant cash flow problems and face considerable were minor contributors to losses. financial strain in the coming months. Additional budget support should be sought to address these issues. Impacts on health and broader macroeconomic losses due to asset damage need to be included in the Overall total damage and loss for the water and calculation of losses. Global cost-benefit analysis of water sanitation sector is estimated to be US$4.53 million (see supply and sanitation interventions conducted by the table 13). This is largely driven by the level of loss in the World Health Organization and others (Hutton, Haller, rural sector, which is illustrated in figure 5. and Bartram 2007; Hutton and Bartram 2008; Evans, Hutton, and Haller 2004; OECD 2011) estimate that in Table 13: Damage and Loss Summary for Water developing regions, the return of a US$1 investment and Sanitation (US$ million) ranges from US$5 to US$46. Using the low end of the range—US$1 in damage equals US$5 in lost economic Damage Loss Total Damage & Loss output—and assuming that the losses would be incurred Rural 0.83 2.71 3.53 until the preexisting level of service was recovered, we Urban 0.30 0.70 1.00 estimated that the loss resulting from damage to assets Total 1.13 3.41 4.53 was approximately US$2.2 million. Sources: GP EHD 2014; Solomon Water 2014a, 2014b 2014c; HCC 2014a 2014b; RWSS yearly work programs, 2013. Solomon Water has incurred additional operating costs because of higher electricity consumption, additional chemical dosing, and additional labor costs. 4.2.6 Government recovery initiatives It has also experienced lost revenue from its issuance of At the time of writing, no government initiatives have flat-rate bills, from an increase in unpaid bills, and from been confirmed. There have been informal reports its supply of water to evacuation centers free of charge. of constituency funds being released and spent in Solomon Water consequently faces higher operational Guadalcanal Province under the Guadalcanal Province Figure 5: Breakdown of Damage and Loss for Water and Sanitation Sector Damage and Loss Damage Loss Adverse health Loss 76% Damage 24% Rural 75% impacts rural 61% Solomon Water 16% Honiara Solomon Water City Council 8% Rural 18% Adverse health 17% impacts urban 5% Sources: GP EHD 2014; Solomon Water2014a, 2014b, 2014c; HCC 2014a 2014b; RWSS yearly work programs, 2013. 18 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 EHD. There are planned recovery initiatives being subsidy can be applied to community sanitation. With developed under the direction of the water, sanitation, the vast majority of the rural population practicing open and hygiene (WASH) cluster (chaired by director of the defecation, accomplishing behavior change in sanitation is EHD) through the emergency response. There have also of paramount importance. New and innovative approaches been confirmed reports of SI$1 million taken out of the to behavior change, such as community-led total RWSS program and redistributed to an emergency fund sanitation (CLTS) or participatory hygiene and sanitation administered by MHMS. transformation, should be tried. There should be a strong push for CLTS programming in particular as a means of 4.2.7 Proposed recovery plan encouraging behavior that will improve sanitation. To help address the needs identified as part of this assessment, the following recovery and reconstruction All emergency repairs have been completed by activities should be considered. The estimates are Solomon Water in Honiara. Additional short-term based on the best information available at the time of recovery and rehabilitation plans have already been writing, but further scoping work should be done before budgeted and planned for under existing programs. budgeting for these items. Medium- to long-term recovery. Medium- to long- Short-term recovery. The majority of damage to term recovery plans need to be underpinned by a the rural water supply resulted directly from adoption detailed review of assessments. A gap analysis needs of poor disaster risk reduction methodologies in the to be completed using existing data, and additional design and construction of infrastructure. For example, assessments then undertaken to address the gaps the short-term rehabilitation works intended to clean identified. At that point a detailed medium- to long-term shallow wells will probably not restore the wells to their reconstruction program should be developed. pre-disaster service level; the wells are poorly designed and upon cleaning they may collapse or become quickly Initial assessments have highlighted the lack of recontaminated. Consideration should be given to detailed baseline data and planning capacity for RWSS. decommissioning the existing wells and constructing a Addressing these deficits is a strategic recommendation limited number of resilient shallow wells to meet basic of the draft Strategic Plan for RWASH 2015–2020. water demand in the short term. This step could be complemented by replacement of all the damaged wells The initial damage assessments show that after basic in the medium to long term. access is restored, RWSS will need to complete installation of additional protected wells with SOLMARK hand Table 14 summarizes short-term needs in the water pumps. This strategy is recommended under the “build and sanitation sector. back better” response; simply replacing the unprotected wells with more unprotected wells is no longer feasible. Sanitation facilities also need to be upgraded. Gravity and rainwater harvesting systems will also need However, under the Solomon Islands RWASH Policy, no to be rehabilitated using BBB principles. A number of Table 14: Short-Term Recovery Needs for Water and Sanitation Sector Activity Needs (US$ million) Rehabilitation of hand-dug wells damaged during the flooding 0.13 Development and dissemination of basic hygiene messages to affected rural communities and around Honiara 0.07 Additional water quality treatment, monitoring, and control 0.05 Replenishment of RWSS warehouse 0.49 Total 0.74 Source: Solomon Islands Government 2014. Note: All short-term recovery needs shown here are for rural areas. 4. Damage, Loss, and Needs / 19 new population centers—created as people have moved The flood has identified a number of operational to areas less prone to floods—will need new water and and reliability constraints in the current Solomon sanitation systems. An additional recommendation to Water distribution network. A gravity main duplication reduce disaster risk, one that has already received partial (estimated at US$1.75 million) has been proposed for donor funding, is the installation of a limited number of the Kongulai water supply system; this would provide deep bores and solar pumps in high-risk communities. much-needed operational resilience. The flood has also highlighted the poor design and limited capacity of the Because the WASH sector has limited capacity, it existing sewage network and the need for Solomon will need support to assist with the implementation of Water to look at developing plans for a third independent the additional recovery and reconstruction activities. water source. A significantly higher implementation cost is expected if additional technical capacity needs to be mobilized. Medium- to long-term recovery needs are At present, UNICEF is well positioned to support, and summarized in table 15. co-lead with, the RWSS/EHD in the overall emergency response. Through its partners, UNICEF can also 4.2.8 Potential funding options in contribute to delivery of the recovery plan in Potential funding sources for short-, medium-, and long- Guadalcanal Province and in the peri-urban areas in term activities in the water and sanitation sector are Honiara. Solomon Water will continue to extend the shown in table 16. maintenance and repairs in Honiara. Table 15: Medium- to Long-Term Recovery Needs for Water and Sanitation Sector Activity Needs (US$ million) Rural  Drilling of boreholes in affected urban and rural communities 0.14 Repair of affected piped water supplies and rainwater harvesting systems in Guadalcanal Province 0.31 Supply of WASH services to new population centers 0.10 Rehabilitation of hand-dug shallow wells using BBB approach 1.92 Total $2.47 Urban  Duplication of Kongulai gravity main 1.75 Development of municipal wastewater collection and treatment master plan 0.08 Development of water supply master plan 0.08 Development of Honiara drainage master plan 0.11 Total 2.02 Grand total 4.49 Sources: Solomon Islands Government 2014; Solomon Water 2013, 2014b. Table 16: Potential Funding Sources for Water and Sanitation Sector Recovery Potential Funding Sources Financing Needs Amount Gap (US$ million) Source (government or donors) (US$ million) (US$ million) World Vision Solomon Islands 0.02 Short Term $0.74 0.44 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australia (warehouse losses) 0.28 Medium-Long Term $4.49 World Vision Solomon Islands 0.08 4.41 Total $5.23 0.37 4.85 Sources: Solomon Islands Government 2014; Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australia. 20 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 4.3 Agriculture of households keep between one and five pigs and between 10 and 12 scavenging chickens. Income from Over 80 percent of Solomon Islanders live in rural areas. the sale of surplus production remains important for The agriculture, forestry, and fishery sector accounted broader economic and social purposes. In the peri-urban for a total of 35.3 percent of GDP in the Solomon Islands Honiara area, livestock is reared in a more structured, in 2013, with 14.5 percent for agriculture (crops and formal system, but elsewhere in Guadalcanal Province, livestock), 15 percent for forestry, and 5.8 percent for livestock is reared on unimproved, poorly managed fishery.1 pastures, fallow land, and crop residues. Table 17 below presents information on pre-disaster livestock in Most rural residents derive their livelihoods Guadalcanal Province and Honiara City. from subsistence agriculture and small-scale income- generating activities, particularly the export of cash crops Solomon Islands fisheries include subsistence, (coconut, oil palm, cocoa), traditional cash crops (sweet semi-commercial, and commercial fisheries, with most potato, cassava, banana, taro, yam, beans, cabbage), and activity in the first two categories, especially among other fresh products. The 2009 Population and Housing Census (Solomon Islands National Statistics Office rural communities. About 60 percent of Solomon 2009) indicates that 89 percent of all Solomon Islands Islanders are involved in fishing activities for their households grow some of their own food; among rural own consumption, and about half of these also sell fish. residents the share is 96 percent. According to the 2009 Population and Housing Census (Solomon Islands National Statistics Office 2009), only Household gardening in rural areas is carried out about 8 percent of the population In Honiara is involved on a shifting cultivation basis, generally using the slash in fishing activities. and burn method, where an area is cultivated for a short period before being left fallow to allow natural The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock regeneration. Increasing population pressure has Development (MAL) has numerous programs and combined with changes in crops, cropping methods, projects devoted to helping smallholders; these take land use, and lifestyle to intensify the use of garden land into consideration the smallholders’ needs, motivations, areas on to more mountainous terrain. This trend has in capabilities, risks, and resources, as well as the effect turn increased soil erosion, landslides, and susceptibility of these factors on the production and marketing of to floods. products or their use within the household. Livestock has a significant share in socioeconomic In order to address the national development development in the Solomon Islands. Around 90 percent priorities embodied in these programs and projects, Table 17: Pre-disaster Livestock in Guadalcanal Province and Honiara City Pre-disaster stock Guadalcanal Honiara Total Cattle, commercial 1,200 0 1,200 Cattle, smallholder 110 0 110 Poultry broiler, smallholder 7,300 7.700 15,000 Poultry layer, commercial 10,000 3,900 13,900 Poultry layer, smallholder 1,900 1,900 3,800 Pigs, commercial 900 2,000 2,900 Pigs, smallholder 12,670 460 13,130 Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Department of Livestock and Veterinary Service. Figures are from the World Bank and the Central Bank of the Solomon Islands. 1 4. Damage, Loss, and Needs / 21 the government, through MAL, established numerous Figure 6: Damage to Livestock and Structures strategic activities to be implemented during the period in Guadalcanal Province (as percentage of damage 2010–2015. These activities included the following: in sector) Sheds 4% Poultry boiler 3% ■■ Development of an oil palm plantation, with a tar- get of developing 40,000 hectares over 10 years Poultry layer 14% ■■ Establishment by 2020 of 3,000 hectares of rice projects across the country’s nine provinces ■■ Rehabilitation and development of cocoa and coco- Pigs 79% nut plantations ■■ Establishment of small livestock projects ■■ Revival of the cattle industry Source: Based on official Solomon Island government data. ■■ Development of exotic and indigenous crops, fruits, and nuts Figure 7: Damage to Livestock and Structures in Honiara (as percentage of damage in sector) 4.3.1 Description of the damages Crops. The total damage to the crop subsector was Sheds 9% assessed at SI$5.47 million (US$750,000). Most of the Poultry boiler damage involved destruction of or damages to cocoa and 7% copra driers and rural roads. Loss of livelihood assets Poultry layer such as farming tools was also considerable. 17% Pigs 67% Livestock. The floods directly impacted the livestock subsector, with damage estimated at SI$3.07 million (US$420,000). There were significant losses of animals, mostly pigs (22 percent lost) and poultry (12 percent Source: Based on official Solomon Islandgovernment data. lost), along with damage to fences, chicken sheds (41 totally or partially damaged in Guadalcanal, 13 in Fisheries. The estimate of damage in the fishery Honiara), and pig structures (64 totally or partially subsector was SI$2.19 million (US$300,000). The flash damaged in Guadalcanal, 4 in Honiara). floods impacted fishing communities living close to main rivers in Honiara City (Mataniko and Lungga Rivers) Table 18 presents the number of poultry and pigs and East and West Guadalcanal. Damage in the fishery washed away by the flash floods in Guadalcanal Province subsector mostly involved the loss of fishing equipment, and Honiara City. canoes, and a few boats. Table 18: Number of Livestock Lost in Guadalcanal Province and Honiara City Guadalcanal Honiara Total Poultry broiler, smallholder 1,110 864 1,974 Poultry layer, commercial 1,520 438 1,958 Poultry layer, smallholder 289 213 502 Pigs, commercial 194 438 632 Pigs, smallholder 2,725 101 2,826 Source: MAL initial rapid assessment. 22 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 4.3.2 Description of the losses In terms of economic loss, cassava accounted for Crops. The estimated loss to the crop subsector was 31 percent of total loss and kumara accounted for 28 SI$112.69 million (US$15.43 million). The flash floods percent, followed by taro (23 percent) and oil palm caused significant damage to food gardens (affecting (11 percent). Details of distribution of loss in the crop mostly kumara, cassava, taro, pana, and vegetables), subsector are shown in figure 9. export crops (cocoa, copra, palm oil), and fruit trees (banana). In total, 1,225 households in Honiara City and Figure 9: Distribution of Loss in the Crop Subsector 7,335 households in Guadalcanal Province were directly Oil palm 11% Copra 1% affected. The numbers of households suffering total or Cocoa 1% partial damages to their food crops are shown in figure 8. Pana 1% Kumara 28% An estimation of loss was not part of the initial damage assessment. The loss in production and income Taro 23% has been assessed and estimated for the most affected crops (kumara, cassava, taro, pana, vegetables, cocoa, copra, and palm oil), taking into account the percentage Vegetables 4% Cassava 31% of the crop damaged, the average area cultivated for each crop, the yield, and the farm gate price. A seasonal crop calendar (see annex 5) was developed in order to Source: Estimates based on official Solomon Island government data. cross-reference the accuracy of the findings in terms of magnitude of production losses. The estimation of losses Livestock. The estimated loss to the livestock also included the cost for replanting vegetables. The cost subsector was SI$9.89 million (US$1.35 million). Loss for replanting root crops was not considered because in production occurred mainly in the poultry and pig most farmers will procure planting material at no cost sectors. Farmers reported loss of animal feedstock as (from undamaged crops, from neighbors, etc.). well as loss of livestock. Figure 8: Number of Households Sustaining Damage to Food Gardens 5,372 4,937 3,594 3,112 3,207 1,451 1,471 1,243 995 916 844 762 753 694 672 552 568 483 564 288 392 382 375 174 135 198 131 16 33 104 15 41 74 88 0 24 25 kumara kumara cassava cassava veg veg taro taro pana pana Honiara Guadalcanal Honiara Guadalcanal Honiara Guadalcanal Honiara Guadalcanal Honiara Guadalcanal n # HH with 100% damaged n # HH with 75% damaged n # HH with 50% damaged n # HH with 25% damaged Source: MAL initial rapid assessment. 4. Damage, Loss, and Needs / 23 Livestock is an important source of income for 4.3.3 Damage and loss summary Honiara peri-urban households and for households in Of the total damage and loss for the three subsectors, 88 Guadalcanal Province. The loss of animals therefore has a percent is attributable to crops, 10 percent to livestock, direct economic impact because it means loss of revenue and 2 percent to fishery (figure 11, panel a). The total from the selling of eggs, pork, and chicken meat; it also effect to the sector amounts to SI$134.42 million means loss of production of offspring (especially pigs) (US$18.41 million), of which SI$10.73 million (US$1.50 for sale as weaners and finishers. Figure 10 illustrates million)—8 percent—is damage and SI$123.70 million the losses in production (SI$) in Guadalcanal Province (US$16.94 million)—92 percent—is loss (figure 11, and Honiara City. panel b). Of the total effect, 99.92 percent accrues to the private sector and 0.08 percent to the public sector. Figure 10: Loss in Livestock Production, by Commodity (SI$) Figure 11: Damage and Losses in the Agriculture 7 Sector Damage 8% 6 Loss in production (SB$ million) 5 4 3 Losses 92% 2 1 a. Distribution of damage and loss in total effect 0 Honira Guadalcanal Livestock 10% n pig n poultry Fishery 2% Fisheries. The estimated loss to the fishery subsector was SB$ 1.1 million (US$ 0.154 million). The loss of fishing equipment, canoes, and boats, along with reduced access to fishing grounds due to debris and sedimentation, Crops 88% resulted in reduction of daily catch. Social dimension. The impact of the flooding on the agriculture sector in turn affected the availability and b. Share of damage and loss, by subsector price of food. Recent market monitoring has shown a Sources: MAL; Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources. distinct decrease in the availability of fresh vegetables as well as an increase in their price—one that will likely Table 19: Damage and Loss by Subsector have secondary impacts on the food security of a large (US$ million) portion of the population in Honiara and other areas of Guadalcanal Province. The majority of economically Damage Losses Total active women are engaged in agriculture; although Crops 0.75 15.43 16.18 their overall participation in cash generation is small, Livestock 0.42 1.35 1.77 any disruption to agricultural activities is likely to Fisheries 0.30 0.15 0.45 have a disproportionate effect on women’s earning Total 1.47 16.83 18.20 capacities. Sources: MAL; Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources. 24 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 The assessment made clear that, with lost income it takes to establish this support, the longer it will take and major food access issues, many small farmers will not for the Solomon Islands to attain full economic recovery. be able to cope with the disaster. Access to high-quality Table 20 and table 21 present the different activities to agricultural inputs such as seeds should be immediately be undertaken in order to promote recovery in the short facilitated, and animal restocking and rehabilitation of term as well as the medium to long term. The tables the damaged infrastructure should be supported. also seek to identify where government initiatives have already been implemented and where donor partner 4.3.4 Government recovery initiatives resources have been made available or may be necessary. Although the details still need to be further developed, Analysis suggests that the sum of SI$21.18 million MAL is likely to support disaster recovery activities by (US$2.90 million) may be required for recovery and drawing on funds available in recurrent budgets and/or SI$20.23 million (US$2.77 million) for reconstruction. redirecting development budget funds. 4.3.5 Proposed recovery plan 4.3.6 Potential funding options Farmers affected by the flash floods need to be Table 22 shows potential funding sources for both supported to facilitate a quicker recovery and to help short-term and medium- to long-term activities in the them reestablish their normal livelihoods. The longer agriculture sector. Table 20: Short-Term Recovery Needs for Agriculture Needs Activity (US$ million) Provide seeds, seedlings, suckers, cuttings, and other agricultural inputs for replanting of crops  1.90 Provide cash for work activities for community-level cleaning to enable affected families to meet food needs, purchase  1.00 equipment, and/or rebuild animal housing and restock Total  2.90 Sources: Livelihoods cluster; MAL. Table 21: Medium- to Long-Term Recovery Needs for Agriculture Needs Activity (US$ million) CROPS Support promotion of resilient agriculture techniques (intercropping, fruit tree planting, integrated farming systems using  1.60 permaculture technique); support community nurseries; improve resilience to floods (improve drainage systems, provide training in disaster risk reduction techniques, including traditional storage techniques) Support MAL and Ministry of Fisheries and Marines Resources in developing damage and loss needs assessment tools, 0.01 including development of accurate baseline information LIVESTOCK Support restocking. Rehabilitate livestock structure with BBB techniques. Restore water facilities. Designate an area where 0.60 household chickens and pigs can be safely evacuated during heavy floods. Ensure that community-level disaster plans factor in provisions for the suitable evacuation of livestock Boost sustainable production through investing in both research and local capacity building by introducing lower cost, 0.05 locally available ingredients into commercial feeds as the strategy to improve profit margins FISHERY Provide fishing gear and equipment  0.24 Promote community fisheries–based management  0.27 Total  2.77 Sources: Livelihoods cluster; MAL; Solomon Islands Government 2014. Farmers affected by the flash floods need to be supported to facilitate a quicker recovery and to help them reestablish their normal livelihoods. The longer it takes to establish this support, the longer it will take for the Solomon Islands to attain full economic recovery. Flooded plantations, Guadalcanal plains. Photo: credit pending 26 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 Table 22: Potential Funding Options for Agriculture Recovery Potential Funding Sources Financing Needs Gap (US$ million) Source (government or donors) US$ million (US$ million) Short term  2.90 MAL; ILO; DFAT; KGA; SEB; New Zealand MFAT; WSPA; ECHO  0.92  1.98 Solomon Islands government; RDP/World Bank; EU; FAO, Medium- to long- term  2.77 0.21 2.56 TTM/ROC, DFAT, New Zealand MFAT Total 5.67  Solomon Islands government; PRRP; ILO,UNDP  1.13 4.54 Sources: Livelihoods cluster; MAL. Note: ILO = International Labour Organization; DFAT = Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; KGA = Kastom Gaden Association; SEB = Solo Enviro Beautification; MFAT = Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; WSPA = World Society for the Protection of Animals; ECHO = European Community Hu- manitarian Office; RDP = Rural Development Program; EU = European Union; FAO = Food and Agriculture Organization; TTM/ROC = ; PRRP = Pacific Risk Resilience Program; UNDP = United Nations Development Programme. 4.4 Housing The Solomon Islands government provides housing for government employees, or alternatively contributes Housing infrastructure in the Solomon Islands is highly toward rental of private houses for employees. vulnerable to natural disasters, as was demonstrated by the extensive damage inflicted during the 2014 flooding 4.4.1 Description of the damages disaster. According to the 2009 Population and Housing The Solomon Islands National Emergency Operations Census (Solomon Islands National Statistics Office 2009), Centre (2014) states that the scope of the disaster is only 21 percent of houses in Honiara and 8 percent of limited to Guadalcanal Island, and in particular those houses in Guadalcanal are constructed with a concrete, areas along the major river systems, the Guadalcanal cement, or brick floor, while the remaining houses Plains, and Northwest Guadalcanal. Thus assessments of have floors of corrugated iron, timber, or traditional or housing damage have been or are intended to be limited makeshift materials, making them more susceptible to Honiara and to 11 affected wards of Guadalcanal to flooding damage. The flooding along the Mataniko Province. River was so destructive, however, that some houses constructed with cement brick walls were also badly damaged or destroyed. Assessments carried out by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey (MLHS) in Honiara and by World The Solomon Islands National Building Code Vision International and Solomon Islands Red Cross (Solomon Islands Government 1990) sets standards for in Guadalcanal Province show that the flooding has building construction in the Solomon Islands, although irreparably damaged or completely destroyed 243 in practice this standard is applied only to permanent houses in Honiara (2.7 percent of the city’s total housing structures. Buildings constructed of traditional materials stock), and around 432 houses in Guadalcanal Province are not built to any regulated standards and tend to be (3.6 percent of the total housing stock across 11 affected far less resilient to natural hazards such as flooding and wards, and 2.5 percent of the total housing stock in the cyclones. province). The Honiara assessment is complete, and the Guadalcanal figure is extrapolated from the assessments Approximately 22 percent of houses in Honiara carried out in six wards to date. and 2 percent of houses in Guadalcanal Province are privately rented (Solomon Islands Government 2009). The Honiara assessment shows that damage to Rents are typically in the range of around SI$1,500 to houses was concentrated on the banks of the Mataniko SI$5,000 per month (approximately US$200 to US$700), River, and that most of these houses were entirely depending on various factors but primarily the method destroyed rather than partially damaged. In Guadalcanal of construction. Province, villages situated near major rivers on the 4. Damage, Loss, and Needs / 27 Guadalcanal Plains were the most affected, and the extent 4.4.2 Description of the losses of damage was more varied than in Honiara. Damage Privately rented houses account for 22.3 percent at Burns Creek was minimal; only 17 of 712 assessed of houses in Honiara and 1.9 percent of houses in houses were destroyed. Guadalcanal (Solomon Islands Government 2009). A sample of the Honiara assessments shows that about A sample of the Honiara assessments shows one in four affected houses was privately rented, that dwellings constructed of traditional materials roughly matching the citywide figure. Rental values vary comprised approximately 49 percent of the houses that according to the construction materials, with monthly were destroyed or suffered irreparable damage. This rentals around SI$2,000 (approximately US$275) can be attributed to the lesser resiliency of traditional for a house built of traditional materials, and around construction, as well as the tendency of squatters to SI$4,000 (approximately US$550) for a house built of build inexpensive temporary structures illegally on land permanent materials. Assuming that houses that have that had not been subdivided for residential use, such as been destroyed require an average of 18 months to at Koa Hill adjacent to the Mataniko River. A total of eight reconstruct, and partially damaged houses require an government houses (allocated to Honiara City Council average of 3 months to repair, the total losses resulting employees) constructed of permanent materials were from loss of rental income will be approximately SI$7.8 completely destroyed in Honiara. million (US$1,066,000). Figure 12: Location of Houses at Koa Hill Destroyed The Humanitarian Action Plan (Solomon Islands by Flooding Government 2014) proposes that transitional shelter be provided for people whose houses have been destroyed and cannot be rebuilt. Based on the assessment carried out by MLHS in Honiara, the National Disaster Management Office estimates that there could be a need for approximately 260 transitional shelters (243 destroyed houses in Honiara, plus 17 destroyed houses at Burns Creek, which adjoins the Honiara City boundary). The NDMO has identified land owned by the Solomon Islands National University in Honiara—used for the 2012 Festival of Pacific Arts (and still identified Sources: Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey; Secretariat of the Pacific Community. as “FOPA”)—as a location for the shelters. The extent to Note: Red dots indicate the location of houses. which the remaining evacuation centers will also need to serve as transitional shelter is yet to be determined. The Estimates of the cost of damage to the housing sector HAP estimates the cost of this transitional shelter project in Guadalcanal Province are based on assessments to to be SI$6 million (US$822,000). date. They are also informed by census figures showing that approximately 70 percent of houses in Guadalcanal Damage and loss in the housing sector is summarized are constructed mainly of traditional materials, with the in table 23. remainder constructed of more permanent materials (Solomon Islands Government 2009). 4.4.3 Government recovery initiatives The MLHS has prepared a subdivision plan for an Though parts of Guadalcanal were not yet assessed area known informally as April Hill, and it will shortly at the time of writing, we project that in total, around commence surveying and pegging for 264 urban lots, 675 houses have been completely destroyed, 3,726 have each with an area of at least 400m2. These lots are to suffered partial (repairable) damage, and 7,235 houses be allocated to people who lost their houses along the have suffered minimal or no damage. Mataniko River (so up to 260 lots may be required). The 28 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 Table 23: Damage and Loss Summary for Housing   Damage Losses Total (US$ million) (US$ million) (US$ million) Fully destroyed houses 10.06 0.42 10.48 Partially damaged houses 14.47 0.35 14.83 Minimally damaged houses 4.67 – 4.67 Total 29.20 0.78 29.98 Sources: MLHS; Solomon Islands Red Cross; World Vision International; selected building quotes. Note: – = negligible. precise method of allocation will be determined either 67,000m2, the site can house around 2,000 people in by the commissioner of lands or by a newly appointed transitional shelters. Structures used during the 2012 Land Board. FOPA are still intact and have been used for immediate shelter needs. The Solomon Islands government will 4.4.4 Proposed recovery plan assess the suitability of these structures for transitional To help address the needs identified as part of this shelter. assessment, the following recovery and reconstruction activities should be considered. The estimates are based Short-term recovery needs in the housing sector are on the best available information available at the time summarized in table 24. of writing, but further scoping work should be done to before budgeting for these items. Table 24: Short-Term Recovery Needs for Housing ■■ Short-term recovery Needs The NDMO is currently providing shelter for internally Activity (US$ million) displaced persons in evacuation centers in Honiara Implementation of a house repair and upgrade 1.8 and Guadalcanal Province, and further assistance is program being provided by aid donors and nongovernmental Provision of transitional shelter 0.82 organizations. NDMO is coordinating a “repatriation” Total 2.00 program, which assists people in voluntarily returning Source: Solomon Islands Government 2014. either to their home in Honiara (if repairable) or to their province of origin. The HAP includes a program to repair ■■ Medium- to long-term recovery and upgrade repairable houses in Honiara and to repair MLHS is preparing to subdivide and develop an area of and reconstruct houses in Guadalcanal; Guadalcanal land within the Honiara City boundary for the purpose residents have alternative customary land upon which to of allocating land parcels to Honiara-based internally resettle, but Honiara residents have limited or no access displaced persons. The preliminary subdivision plan to alternative land, and are therefore considered as part of includes 264 residential lots, which is sufficient to a separate resettlement program. Funding to support the meet the anticipated needs. The precise layout of the repair/reconstruction program has yet to be identified. subdivision needs to reflect constraints such as exposure to flood and landslide hazards; additional assessment NDMO expects that there may be around 1,000 to may be required to determine this exposure. Early 2,000 people remaining in evacuation centers after the indications suggest that the indicative costs for the repatriation process, comprising Honiara residents who development of these plots—including the construction lost their homes and do not wish to return to their home of roads and the servicing costs for water, electricity, province. These people will be provided with transitional housing, and sanitation—are approximately SI$64 shelter at the FOPA site; with an area of approximately million (US$8.7 million). 4. Damage, Loss, and Needs / 29 Given the high-level decisions that need to be which in turn is organized around the five subsectors made before any recovery program can be effectively of the education system (early childhood education, designed, it has not been possible to include the costs primary education, secondary education, technical in this report. At this stage it is unknown who will fund and vocational training, and tertiary education). The any resettlement and reconstruction activities or if governments of New Zealand and Australia have actively repatriation of households will occur. supported the education sector over the past years through the joint Education Sector Support Program. The 4.4.5 Potential funding options program provides budget support to mutually agreed-on The United Nations Development Programme will targeted areas (e.g., teacher development, infrastructure, potentially provide up to US$150,000 toward the cost of inspectorate). Despite ongoing support, however, the transitional shelters at FOPA. No donors have yet been ministry has in recent years faced challenges in its identified to fund a house repair and upgrade program. capacity to expend existing resources, particularly on the development side. This difficulty has been due in MLHS has a budget of SI$6 million (US$822,000) part to limited human resources, to a lack of baseline specifically for infrastructure costs associated with data relating to the condition of existing assets (both new subdivisions. The MLHS permanent secretary buildings and curricula), and to delays in procurement has allocated this Site Development Fund to be used processes. at April Hill.2 This will go some way toward paying for the infrastructure costs but will still leave a significant 4.5.3 Sector impacts shortfall, particularly in light of the cost of new houses. This assessment of sector impacts is based on the Australian Civil Corps Education & Health Assessment of April 24, 2014, and on assessment information provided 4.5 Health and Education by the Ministry of Education and Human Resource 4.5.1 Health Development (MEHRD) and the MHMS. At the time A major priority for the Ministry of Health and Medical of writing, further assessments were under way, so it Services, and the driving force behind the development should be understood that this account does not provide of health facilities in the Solomon Islands, is the Universal a complete picture of damaged schools and health clinics. Health Coverage and Role Delineation Policy. This policy includes the upgrading of existing health facilities but also 4.5.4 Description of the damages the establishment of new health clinics in selected areas. Health clinics. In total eight health clinics suffered negative impacts from the floods: three in Honiara City Honiara and Guadalcanal Province—the areas that Council and three in Guadalcanal Province. are the focus of this post-disaster rapid assessment—are home to 52 health facilities. Guadalcanal Province has 43 No clinics were structurally damaged, and none open health facilities and one hospital (Good Samaritan). needs to be relocated or completely reconstructed as a Of the non-hospital facilities, 13 are nurse aid posts, 24 result of the floods. Three facilities in Honiara (Mataniko are rural health clinics, and 6 are area health centers. Area Health Center, White River Rural Health Clinic, and In Honiara, there are 8 clinics (thought to be in poor Pikinini Area Health Center) sustained varying levels of condition before the flooding) and the National Referral inundation and architectural damage to internal partition Hospital. wall linings, electrical outlets, entrance doors, hollow core doors, external wall cladding, external landscaping, 4.5.2 Education and septic tanks. The engineers who evaluated the The Solomon Islands education sector is currently guided facility believe that the clinics can commence operations by the 2013–2015 National Education Action Plan, while work proceeds. The Pikinini Area Health Center Based on personal communication with Stanley Waleanisia, May 5, 2014. 2 30 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 sustained similar types of damages, though these were Figure 13: Health Losses by Source of Budget more severe, and repair work is required before the clinic can operate effectively. A detailed breakdown of MHMS 29% Guadalcanal Province 25% damage to health facilities is available in annex 6. Three clinics in Guadalcanal (Selwyn Nurse Aid Post, Tinaghulu Nurse Aid Post, and New Tenabuti Rural Health Clinic) have sustained minor damage consequent to Losses 92% inundation of the premises; they will need new floors and Honiara City National Medical repairs to inner lower walls, and some equipment and Council 11% Stores 35% medical supplies will need to be replaced. Prior to the Source: MEHRD. flooding, the quality and quantity of equipment of these facilities was already considered to be at a low level. Of the total damage, 36 percent is under the National Education. According to the information collected Vector Borne Disease Control Division, 29 percent is to date, the damage reported to schools was minimal under the National Reproductive & Child Health Division, and requires only minor repairs. A full list of schools 13 percent is under the National Referral Hospital, with reported damage is provided in annex 7. The key and the remaining 22 percent is under various MHMS tasks to be carried out are repairs to school buildings, national divisions. the pumping out of septic tanks, and the replenishment of curricular materials and furniture. It should be Guadalcanal Province has been using its provincial noted that there was no pre-disaster information on health recurrent budget, which is funded by MHMS grants the condition of school infrastructure, which makes it and Health Sector Support Programme grants, to conduct difficult to ascertain the damage directly attributable to its emergency response throughout the province. It will the disaster. do so until the end of May, so the weekly average of up- to-date costs is a forecast impact on their budget. The 4.5.5 Description of the losses total amount expected to be spent for the flood is SI$1.2 Health. The Ministry of Public Service circular stipulated million (US$164,484), representing 8 percent of the total grants for Guadalcanal Province for 2014 (total grants that staff working in the aftermath of the flooding are equal to SI$14.1 million or US$57,000). This amount would receive an extra allowance of SI$150 (US$20) per includes all expenses related to the flood, including weekday and SI$300 (US$41) for weekends and public mostly the per diems for staff working hard on the relief holidays. These amounts have been used as a proxy to efforts (SI$150 per weekday and SI$300 for per day estimate the level of loss incurred from the additional on weekends and public holidays), goods, equipment, work required, but the final number of staff members rations, fuel, catering for the disaster team, and new who will be receiving this allowance is not yet final. The computers for the team. The amount also includes the total loss for the health sector is estimated at SI$4.7 loss of one ambulance (washed away by flash floods) and million (or US$649,000); losses are shown disaggregated the resulting interruption in service delivery. by percentage in figure 13. Replacement of damaged stock and supplies for The impact on the National Environmental Health National Medical Store mobile teams is estimated at Division, which is part of the MHMS, has not been SI$168,311 (US$23,049). Overseas procurement, along included here because water and sanitation have been with orders of new stock to replace what was lost and assessed separately. It will be important to allocate to meet increased needs arising from disease outbreaks, National Environmental Health Division losses to the comes to SI$1.5 million (US$205,520). The replacement MHMS budget. stock is to replenish supplies in Honiara City Council and 4. Damage, Loss, and Needs / 31 Guadalcanal Province clinics. Stocks in White River and responding to health sector needs, including preventative Mataniko clinics have been replaced. The National Medical and curative services and disease surveillance. In Store supply has returned to its pre-disaster level, but response to the crisis, MHMS has strengthened its teams it is ready to accommodate spikes in usage arising from for risk communication, nutrition and food safety, WASH, outbreaks of diarrhea, dengue, and other diseases. and health cluster coordination. Honiara City Council will spend SI$490,000 A number of assessments, both rapid and ongoing, (US$67,000) of its recurrent budget (which is funded have been conducted to monitor health sector needs through MHMS and the Health Sector Support following the flooding. MHMS conducted an initial Programme) as a result of the floods. rapid assessment and is leading assessments of health facilities, with data analysis ongoing. People living in Three Ministry of Health and Medical Services di- affected communities in Guadalcanal Province (currently visions were affected by the floods: (i) the National Vec- 64 communities identified)—specifically the catchment tor Borne Disease Control division, which had to use its area of the 21 affected health facilities—are at risk. The stock of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets and chemi- population of the catchment areas of the three health cals (which will have to be replaced) and order additional facilities in Honiara City Council, including affected quantities; (ii) the National Reproductive and Child Health communities in outer areas of Honiara, are also at risk. division, which will have to conduct an additional vacci- nation campaign; and (iii) the National Referral Hospital, Education. Community clean-up activities have which had to use its budget for MEOC and hospital expens- helped to repair some of the damage and remove debris, es. In addition, various divisions’ budgets were affected by and children were able to return to school following the relief efforts. The total amount for losses for the MHMS the Easter holiday. The MEHRD is conducting further is SI$1.4 million (US$192,000). assessments to determine the full extent of damage and the financial cost of replacing, repairing, and restoring Education. The losses in the education sector have been essential services, resources, and physical environments derived by establishing a cost for the additional logistical in the affected schools. It has engaged an engineering support required to access the schools, overtime of company to begin this process. the staff, and the school fees that were waived via the provision of school grants. Total loss for the sector is 4.5.8 Proposed recovery plan estimated at SI$888,000 (US$122,000). To help address the needs identified as part of this assessment, the following recovery and reconstruction 4.5.6 Damage and loss summary activities should be considered. The estimates are Table 25 summarizes damage and losses in the health based on the best available information at the time of and education sectors. writing, but further scoping work should be done before budgeting for these items, Table 25: Damage and Losses in Health and Education (US$ million) ■■ Short-term recovery Damage Losses Total The short-term recovery of the health and education sec- Public schools 1.24 0.10 1.24 tors requires the implementation of minor repair work. It Health facilities 0.19 0.65 0.80 is understood that for both MHMS and MEHRD, this work is Total 1.29 0.75 2.04 already under way, and that the education sector has been Source: Estimates based on official Solomon Islands government data. able to leverage limited support via the Humanitarian Ac- tion Plan. The works suggested here focus on the minor re- 4.5.7 Government recovery initiatives pairs to school buildings, pumping out of septic tanks, and Health. In the aftermath of the flooding, MHMS, with drainage; similar works are suggested for the health cen- the support of its cluster partners, has been actively ters. Needs are summarized in table 26. 32 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 Table 26: Short-Term Recovery Needs for Health In terms of medium- to long-term recovery, the and Education floods have once again highlighted the precarious state of Needs some of the health facilities in Honiara and Guadalcanal Activity (US$ million) Province. Long-term efforts to improve infrastructure’s Schools   resilience to natural hazards will need to be based on Minor repair of flood damage 0.69 the MHMS Role Delineation Policy. Major infrastructure Health Clinics   work has already been identified at the National Referral Minor repair of flood damage 0.15 Hospital in Honiara, which has had to respond to natural Recuperation of losses 0.65 hazard events by moving the pediatric, antenatal, Total  1.49 gynecology, and postnatal wards to higher ground). Education. The medium to long term activities ■■ Medium- to long-term recovery identified for the education sector involve repairing Health. The medium-term recovery activities were the schools to their pre-disaster state. The activities extracted from the HAP health section (excluding those identified are expected to take a longer time than that were considered part of short-term recovery those listed in table 27 and to involve activities such as and were undertaken by Guadalcanal Province, NHR, repairs to access roads and the drainage system. The Honiara City Council, and various nongovernmental proposed build back better solution includes relocating organizations, such as repairs to affected facilities, four schools to sites not prone to flooding and carrying provision of health and nutrition services, supplementary out various flood-proofing measures, such as elevating immunization program, safe food handling to prevent power points. Activities are summarized in table 27. food-borne diseases, provision of sexual reproductive health services, and provision of mental health and 4.5.9 Potential funding options psychosocial services to affected communities ). Health. In preliminary discussions, UN agencies have expressed their interest in contributing to the relief effort Any medium- to long-term recovery efforts will need for the health sector through the Central Emergency further assessment of the flood’s effect on the health of Response Fund. This would not cover the losses of the Solomon Islands population (for example, relating to MHMS, however, but only quick fixes to restore affected nutrition and reproductive and child health). The referral clinics to a functional level. system linking different facilities has been affected, and while it seems to be getting back on track, the disruption Table 28 gives an indication of potential funding might have medium- or long-term consequences for the sources for the recovery needs. At this stage, MHMS health sector. external support is being sought to fund these initiatives Table 27: Medium- to Long-Term Recovery Needs for Health and Education Medium- to Long-Term Build Back Better Recovery Needs Recovery Needs Activity (US$ million) (US$ million) Schools   Reconstruct schools 0.540 5.24 Health clinics   Strengthen coordination mechanisms within and outside the health sector 0.068 Establish early warning and response system 0.076 Conduct nutrition assessment of affected population 0.008 Carry out evidence-based nutritional interventions to protect young children 0.027 Total 0.719  5.24 4. Damage, Loss, and Needs / 33 Table 28: Potential Funding Sources in Health and Education Recovery Needs Potential Funding Sources Financing Gap (US$ million) Source (government or donors) US$ million (US$ million) Education short term 1.23 Government sector budget support 1.23   Health short term 0.80   Health medium- to long- term 0.12       Total  2.15     0.92 so that additional funds need not be diverted from the disaster state. MEHRD has also indicated that the sector core budget. would benefit from additional technical assistance activities to help coordinate the works schedule with Education. Preliminary discussions with MEHRD repairs that had already been planned. The cost of suggest that the majority of repairs and restocking of technical assistance has not been included in the recovery curricular materials can be absorbed under its existing needs, as further scoping work would be required to budget. The estimate given in table 28 is derived from ascertain the desired activities and to gauge interest combining the short-term and medium- to long-term from donors to in supporting the assistance. repairs that would return the buildings to their pre- Any medium- to long-term recovery efforts will need further assessment of the flood’s effect on the health of the Solomon Islands population (for example, relating to nutrition and reproductive and child health). The referral system linking different facilities has been affected, and while it seems to be getting back on track, the disruption might have medium- or long-term consequences for the health sector. Tuvaruhu Public School. Photo: Courtesy school principal. Collecting flood level data at Koa Hill. Collection of accurate flood level data will support the BSURE approach. Flood mark, Koa Hill. Photo: Stephen Yeo / 35 5. Managing Flood Risk and Building Urban Risk Resilience This section explores and seeks to understand the 5.1.2 Urban and peri-urban risk setting localized geographic impact of the April 2014 floods. The global trend toward urbanization3 is evident in the It first provides an overview of the country’s hazard Solomon Islands. According to national census reports, setting and analyzes the urban/peri-urban risk urban growth rates have been higher than rural growth setting. Indications are that urban vulnerability is rates for the last 30 years. Extrapolating from the 2009 increasing over time, likely with consequential drag on national census figures, it is estimated that at least the national economy. This section then assesses the 129,000 people, or 22.2 percent of the total population, underlying causes of the flood and looks at the flood risk live in urban areas in 2014, an increase of 27,000 people management measures in place at the time of the flood. over the past five years. The figure would be higher if the It makes recommendations for more detailed mapping population of Honiara’s peri-urban settlements located and modelling of the flood hazard, and for mapping and within Guadalcanal Province were included (figure 14). projections of settlement growth and land-use needs in different parts of Honiara, in particular the vulnerable In-migration to urban centers is typically driven by areas. The resulting information will help in developing employment and livelihood opportunities or prospects. credible options for reducing flood risk. Finally, this In 2005, the urban product (i.e., the level of economic section recommends an integrated program designed activity in urban areas) was 37 percent, although only to break the urban risk cycle. The recommendations are 16.3 percent of the country’s total population lived in clustered according to activities to modify (i) the flood urban areas at that time. Similarly, in 2010 the urban hazard, (ii) human use of the floodplain, and (iii) the contribution to GDP was 66 percent (although this human responses to flooding. figure also includes mining activities).4 The 2005–2006 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (Solomon Islands Statistics Office 2006) found that the median 5.1 Setting the context annual per capita expenditure of urban households was 3.5 times greater than that of rural households. 5.1.1 National hazard setting The Solomon Islands is one of the 20 countries most The urban areas and Honiara in particular function vulnerable to natural disasters, being subject to cyclones, as important engines of economic growth. The growth floods, landslides, storm surges, earthquakes, tsunamis, in urban population is positively correlated with growth and droughts. The Pacific Catastrophe Risk Assessment in GDP per capita and decline in poverty levels over the and Financing Initiative (PCRAFI 2012) estimates that the past 10 years. It would be economically rational for the Solomon Islands faces average annual losses of around Solomon Islands to take full advantage of urbanization US$44 million due to tropical cyclones and earthquakes. and the economic opportunities it presents. Flooding has occurred with relentless frequency. Over and above the damage and losses suffered in April 2014, On the supply side, urban management systems, flood damage in Honiara and Guadalcanal had occurred land use, and service delivery have failed to keep pace as a result of Cyclone Angela (1966), Cyclone Glenda with this rapid growth. For the past 30 years or so, little (1967), Cyclone Carlotta (1972), Cyclone Kerry (1979), in the way of new subdivisions or serviced land has Cyclone Bernie (1982), Cyclone Namu (1986), Cyclone been available for low- or lower-middle-income groups. Ului (2010), and Cyclone Yasi (2011), and as a result of As a result, both new migrants into the city and new excessively heavy rainfall in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012. households that have grown naturally out of existing By mid-2010, for the first time in history, more of the world’s population lived in urban rather than rural areas (UN-Habitat 2011). 3 Urban contribution to GDP was derived from national accounts; see Soubbotina (2004). 4 36 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 Figure 14: Informal Settlement Straddling Guadalcanal Province/Honiara City Council households have had to find their own land and housing and fuel depot, the Marine Training School, and a number solutions. UN-Habitat (2012) reports that 35 percent of bridges and land transport routes linking Honiara to of Greater Honiara’s population lives in 30 informal the Guadalcanal agricultural hinterland. squatter settlements. Growth rates in these informal settlements are high—around 6 percent a year—and All these factors combine to trap Honiara (and there are reports that middle-income as well as low- to some extent other secondary towns) in a cycle of income households build in these areas, given the overall worsening risk (illustrated in annex 8), though some shortage of serviced land. An estimated 4,000 people live of the risk could be mitigated or prevented through in areas well located for employment, such as the highly improved urban and risk management. vulnerable informal settlements of Koa Hill, Vara Creek, Lord Howe, and Burns Creek. 5.1.3 Anatomy of a disaster: Underlying causes of the April 2014 flash floods Key national and strategic infrastructure and The causes of the April 2014 disaster involve the facilities are also located in areas of risk. These include intersection of a severe flood hazard and a highly the Honiara International Airport, the Point Cruz port vulnerable population. To build flood resilience, it is 5. Managing Flood Risk and Building Urban Risk Resilience / 37 useful to analyze the causes of the disaster, and to focus is associated with events having return periods greater in particular on the Mataniko River and the communities than 100 years (Lal and Thurairajah 2011). But the of Vara Creek and Koa Hill, where the loss of life was critical time period to produce the largest flows for the concentrated (figure 15). 57km2 Mataniko catchment would likely be much less than 24 hours. Further, the annual recurrence frequency On the hazard side of the disaster equation, the flood of rainfall at a location is not the equivalent of flood may be attributed primarily to a slow-moving tropical frequency. Anecdotal evidence suggests about a 50- to depression that brought very heavy rain—a record 100-year return period for the flood. (This doesn’t mean 318mm was recorded at Honiara for the 24 hours ending that a flood of this size will not return for 50 or 100 years, 11 a.m. on April 4. Peaking at about 2 p.m. on Thursday but rather that such a flood has a 1–2 percent chance of April 3, the flash flood was very deep in some places (e.g., occurring in any given year). 4.35m over the floor of St. John the Baptist church at Koa Hill). The flow was reportedly fast and carried a great On the vulnerability side of the disaster equation, deal of debris, including whole trees and houses. the immediate cause of the disaster was the highly exposed houses, located on dangerously low ground, A lack of hydrological data makes it difficult to especially at Koa Hill, where residents say the land was estimate an average return period for the flood with once a swamp. The low-resilience housing styles also any confidence. The daily rainfall measured at Honiara contributed to vulnerability. Traditional leaf houses were Figure 15: Analysis of Causes of the April 2014 Mataniko River Flood Disaster FLOOD HAZARD HEAVY RAIN SEA LEVEL CATCHMENT FLOODPLAIN • Heavy antecedent rain • Low tide at 2 p.m. April 3 • Drainage network • Narrow • 318mm to 11 a.m. April 4 • No indication storm surge • Steep • Landslide/log clams • Higher inland • Forestry • Obstructions to flow • Alluvial sediment • Deep, fast, rapid-rising, high debris, frequency? FLASH FLOOD INADEQUATE MATANIKO COMMUNITY DISASTER RESPONSES HIGHLY EXPOSED HOUSES • Flood waring system? • 21 fatalities • Flood education? • What if at night? • Emergency response? • 239 houses destroyed • Bridge destroyed • School damaged VULNERABILITY DANGEROUS LOW-RESILIENCE • Businesses damaged LOCATIONS HOUSING UNPLANNED LOW INCOMES URBANIZATION 38 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 disproportionately damaged in the flood, though at Koa 5.2 Breaking the cycle of increasing risk Hill the flood depths, velocities, and debris load were such that even block concrete houses were destroyed. Every natural hazard does not have to result in a disaster. With better policy, planning, and coordination, A severe flash flood and a highly exposed population urbanization could become a positive force for economic were ingredients for a disaster on the afternoon of growth and poverty reduction rather than a factor April 3, 2014. Only an appropriate response from increasing natural hazard risk. To be sure, building those in danger’s way might have saved lives, but back better at the city level will require an integrated anecdotal reports suggest that many people responded strategy, such as the Building and Strengthening Urban inadequately. Consideration should be given to whether Resilience (BSURE) approach summarized in Figure 16 the flood warning system, flood education initiatives, or and described in more detail in section 5.6. emergency response operations could be improved. As the figure shows, managing flood risk requires Some 22 people lost their lives in the Mataniko River assessment of the risk, followed by interventions to flood disaster of April 2014. A number of near misses reduce the risk by modifying the hazard, modifying were also reported: several people held on to the apex exposure and vulnerability, and modifying-short term of the church roof, and a boy survived despite being responses. washed downriver from Koa Hill to the sea. Had the flood occurred at night, with fully occupied houses and rescues more difficult to carry out, there might well have been 5.3 Better understanding the risk hundreds of fatalities. The flooding also destroyed 235 5.3.1 Flood hazard assessment houses along the valley, washed away the old Mataniko Flood hazards in the Solomon Islands are in general Bridge, inundated classrooms at Honiara High School, poorly understood; annex 9, which measures flood risk and affected many businesses in Chinatown, partly management practices in the Solomon Islands against because of extensive riverbank erosion. best-practice benchmarks, makes this clear. The following measures are proposed to improve this situation. Figure 16: Strategic Approach to Building and Strengthening Urban Resilience Cycle of NO “Business as Usual” Increasing Risk Build and Strengthen Urban Resilience RISK ASSESSMENT (BSURE) Modify the Hazard YES Breaking the Modify exposure and Urban Risk Cycle vulnerability Modify short-term responses Note: The box at the upper right is included as annex 8, where it can be read more easily. Had the Mataniko River flood disaster of April 2014 occurred at night, with fully occupied houses and rescues more difficult to carry out, there might well have been hundreds of fatalities. Mataniko River flood. Photo: Stephen Yeo 40 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 a. Collect flood data for the April 2014 event. There is of measures to carry out land tenure regularization in an urgent need is to collect flood data from the April four “temporary housing” informal settlements within 2014 event before it is lost in the course of time. In Honiara City, and to lay out and service a middle-income addition to mapping the extent of flooding, there is residential subdivision on greenfield, government- a need to record flood depths and survey peak flood owned land at some distance from business areas of the levels. These are vital data for the calibration of any city. It intends to review and update the Honiara Local flood modelling that is conducted. Planning Scheme (2006), to carry out an organizational b. Devise options to sustainably improve the hydrolog- review and restructuring of the key units of Ministry of ical monitoring network. Considerable investment Lands, Housing and Survey, and to review all land-related has been made in improving hydrological moni- legislation. toring in the Solomon Islands. Unfortunately, min- imal data on rainfall and river levels were captured It is critical that basic data be collected regarding for the April 2014 flood, which appears to reflect household incomes and expenditures (we are awaiting the Hydrology Unit’s lack of capacity or funding to results of the 2013 survey) and that a business and maintain the hydrological infrastructure—as well enterprise survey be undertaken. These data would as occasional vandalism (see SPC 2012, 122–38). (i) inform the government’s direction of growth to The current lack of data constrains both assess- secondary towns; (ii) make it possible from a risk ment of flood risks through modelling and delivery perspective to predict the direction and pace of growth of timely flood warnings. The current network must in urban villages/settlements and the associated land- be restored and expanded, while simultaneously use needs; and (iii) help the government direct growth increasing the capacity of the Hydrology Unit and to particular lower-risk parts of the city. committing to ongoing maintenance of the gauge infrastructure. Careful consideration of gauge loca- tions and security will be required to minimize the risk of vandalism. 5.4 Risk-reducing options c. Carry out flood modelling to inform an urban flood 5.4.1 Modify the hazard risk management master plan. Some flood mapping The following steps could be taken to reduce risk by based on historical events is available, but it does modifying the flood hazard; not demonstrate best practice. The importance of a. Watershed management. Given the intensity of the Honiara as the capital and economic hub of the Sol- rain and the steep watershed, the land surface cov- omon Islands, and the pressure placed by urban er probably had little effect on the resultant flood growth on floodplains, commend a more compre- in the Mataniko catchment. Nevertheless, a prudent hensive investigation. “no regrets” measure is best practice for watershed d. Assessments need to take account of multiple haz- management. Better understanding the extent of ards. Flooding from rivers and creeks is just one forestry operations is required, along with positive hazard affecting greater Honiara. Ultimately there land management practices such as reforestation is a need for a multi-hazard assessment that in- to increase rainfall interception and slope stabili- cludes storm surge associated with tropical cy- ty. Similarly, agricultural practices such as planting clones as well as landslides and riverbank erosion. along the contour would be beneficial. b. Riverbank protection/rehabilitation. In some plac- 5.3.2 Vulnerable areas es, riverbank erosion is threatening important fa- Important first steps in addressing risk in vulnerable cilities and infrastructure, and engineering mea- areas have been taken, but the interventions are sures such as rock gabion walls may be required to not large enough to make an impact on the cycle of contain the erosion. The naturally dynamic nature of deterioration described above. The government has river channels in the Solomon Islands also needs to recently completed descriptive “urban profiles” for the be acknowledged. Recognizing the likelihood of riv- three main urban areas. It also is embarking on a number ers shifting, Roy (1990) mapped wide flood channel 5. Managing Flood Risk and Building Urban Risk Resilience / 41 zones for rivers on the Guadalcanal Plains,. Aerial flood modelling would likely be required, because photography of the Lungga River delta shows sub- withdrawing so much of the flood storage area is stantial changes from 1949 to 2013. In such an area, expected to increase flood levels elsewhere. Local the large-scale investment that would be required to decision makers will need to determine whether stabilize the river could well be in vain. But the plant- the increase is acceptable. ing of deep-rooted trees, grasses, and reeds might be f. Drainage master plan. Every wet season, Honiara used to slow down the rate of change. is beset by routine drainage problems that include c. Bridge protection. Much damage was done by the surface water on roads and inundation of some debris carried along in the floodwater in April buildings. Preparation of a detailed drainage mas- 2014. The resilience of bridges would be enhanced ter plan would make it possible to calculate flows, by building back structures with higher decks and identify current assets, determine the need for new larger spans, with fewer piers presenting an obsta- or expanded assets, identify overland flow paths cle to flow. Any piers could be protected by deflec- and opportunities for retention basins, and con- tors (though some deflectors used in the past have sider drainage design standards and detailing. A been stolen). drainage master plan would need to link up with d. Maintenance of flow conveyance. An inspection the proposed flood hazard mapping. There is also of culverts around Honiara suggests that many a need for legislative review to help delineate and are partly blocked by debris. There is also a large strengthen the ability of MID and Honiara City quantity of rubbish in watercourses. In a flood, this Council to control new developments and remove means that the culverts may be entirely blocked, encroachments into watercourses. diverting flow into areas that might not otherwise have flooded. 5.4.2 Modify exposure and vulnerability A key requirement to facilitate the conveyance The following measures are proposed for modifying of flow is to maintain the creeks and drainage in- exposure and vulnerability: frastructure. It is understood that this would be a Ministry of Infrastructure Development function a. Best-practice hazard mapping should inform city for road culverts, but which if any organization is and local planning as well as building design in exist- responsible for cleaning creeks within the city is ing and new settlements. unclear. More broadly, extending the provision of b. Use of low-hazard land should be maximized. waste collection services and seeking to shift the c. For residential serviced land, a twin-track approach culture of using the creeks for solid waste disposal should be implemented. The first track would involve would be advantageous. phased area/settlement upgrading with tenure reg- Conveyance can also be affected by obstructions on ularization. Following negotiations with the commu- the floodplain, and the flood effect of developments nity, a package of services to meet the community’s should be assessed in the approvals process. identified needs would be provided; the package e. Structural works to increase flood immunity of Hen- would be based on community members’ ability and derson Airport. Henderson Airport experienced willingness to pay for land and services (and would flooding on several occasions before 2014, includ- thus discourage in-migration). The pilot areas would ing in 1967, 1972, and 1986. One proposal put be in Honiara City, peri-urban settlements, and Gizo, forward by Trustrum, Whitehouse, and Blaschke based on the hazard risk profile of each area and on (1989) was for “stop banks” to prevent overflow the willingness of the communities to participate. channels of the Lungga River from inundating the The second track would involve designing and build- airport. A formalized flood diversion channel could ing phased new serviced subdivisions that target direct overflows around the southern side of the low- and middle-income groups. The project would runway toward Alligator Creek. A full assessment seek full recovery of land (opportunity) costs and would be required to evaluate the economic, social, maintenance of service levels (which could require and environmental feasibility of the works. Detailed utility agencies to use sinking funds for transparen- 42 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 cy). The pilot would be located in a low-hazard area system in place to ensure that those living in low-ly- in Honiara City, peri-urban settlements, and Gizo, ac- ing areas have time to escape to higher ground. A cording to the identified demand (based on market warning system would also benefit businesses in surveys) for land in that particular area. Chinatown. Several simple community-based sys- d. Ways of promoting voluntary resettlement from tems have been introduced in Guadalcanal. An ide- very dangerous locations should be considered. al warning system could be designed so that when a water-level recorder reaches predetermined e. Involuntary resettlement should be a last resort, thresholds, an SMS is sent to the appropriate gov- and populations should be relocated as close as ernment ministries (including one with 24-hour possible to their original location. capability, such as the police) and to wardens for f. Guidelines for hazard-resilient housing, including for each community located along the river. low-income groups, should be reviewed and updated. b. Review and strengthen flood education initiatives to Some good information is available for designing promote safer behavior during flooding. For flood and building hazard-resistant houses in the Solomon warnings to be effective, the communities exposed Islands. Some useful papers were presented at the to flooding need to be aware of their risk and ready National Disaster Preparedness Workshop in 1990. to respond in good time. The experience of the April However, an inspection of damaged houses after 2014 flood suggests that further work is needed to the April 2014 floods suggests that building stan- ensure communities are ready for flooding. Guide- dards—even for concrete dwellings presumably be- lines could be developed to help businesses, com- longing to middle-income residents—are wanting. munities, and key organizations (including Honia- In particular, at some sites the uprooted foundations ra International Airport) prepare their own flood were seen to be very shallow, and the floor and walls emergency response plans. One salient message is were seen to be inadequately fixed to the columns. that future floods will be bigger than those experi- A review and update of available guidelines, and enced in the past. possible promulgation of the guidelines through the Solomon Islands Built Environment Professionals c. Provide hazard-proof evacuation shelters where Association (SIBEPA), is recommended. Options for gaps were identified. A preliminary assessment low-income groups should be considered. following the April 2014 flood indicates that some communities are located a long way from evacua- 5.4.3 Modify short-term responses tion centers. There were reports from the Burns The following measures are proposed for modifying Creek community, for example, of women and chil- dren evacuating through waist-deep water over a short-term responses: distance of more than 2km. In such circumstances, a. Review and strengthen flood warning systems. After one misstep into a drain could result in tragedy. A every severe flood, a review of the performance of detailed analysis of evacuation risks is needed; and the total flood warning system is appropriate. This where the risk is judged to be intolerable, resilient will help to identify how the system can be im- evacuation shelters should be built. proved. A preliminary analysis suggests that more clearly differentiating heavy rain alerts from heavy 5.5 Intervention to address risk: Next rain warnings would be helpful, given the height- steps for Building and Strengthening ened threat of flood associated with the latter. There also appears to be scope for greater spatial Urban Resilience (BSURE) strategy precision in these messages. Table 29 describes the BSURE program for strengthening In addition to a review of overall system perfor- flood risk management and urban resilience. Early mance, there is a need for an early warning system discussions indicate a need for greater coordination for the Mataniko River. While ideally the most se- between the various stakeholders to implement the verely affected land would not be resettled, reset- program (details of institutional aspects are described in tlement cannot be ruled out, and there must be a annex 10). 5. Managing Flood Risk and Building Urban Risk Resilience / 43 Table 29: Building and Strengthening Urban Resilience Strategy Short-Term Medium- to (3–6 Long-Term Activity Agency months) (> 6 months) INSTITUTIONAL COORDINATION Enhance coordination between existing institutions and clarify Solomon Islands government, ✓ ✓ arrangements and responsibilities for flood risk management NDMO Nominate lead agencies for BSURE Solomon Islands government ✓ ✓ RISK ASSESSMENT Flood hazard Flood hazard mapping Donors, MECDM, Division ✓ ✓ Collect flood data (high priority) of Water Resources, MLHS, Survey flood peak levels Honiara City Council Conduct LIDAR survey and digital elevation modelling Carry out flood modelling Identify high-risk areas in citywide plans Devise options to sustainably improve the hydrological monitoring network Donors, Division of Water ✓ Resources Conduct a multi-hazard assessment for Honiara including storm surge, Donors ✓ landslide, and riverbank erosion Vulnerable areas Collect data on household income and expenditures and conduct a ✓ businesses and enterprise survey Project urban growth direction, pace, and land-use needs within greater MLHS ✓ Honiara, Auki, and Gizo (high priority) RISK REDUCTION MEASURES Modify the flood hazard Manage watersheds Forestry, Agriculture ✓ Protect/rehabilitate riverbanks MID, To be confirmed ✓ Protect bridges from debris impact MID ✓ Maintain flow conveyance MID, Honiara City Council ✓ Construct a ring levee to increase flood immunity of Henderson Airport MID ✓ Prepare a drainage master plan MID ✓ Modify exposure and vulnerability Implement twin-track approach for residential serviced land: MLHS ✓ ✓ Upgrade informal settlements, including security of tenure and user-pays- for-services approach Identify service and allocate new residential and business land (lease/sale prices to include cost recovery) Promote voluntary resettlement from very dangerous locations MLHS ✓ ✓ Review and update guidelines for hazard-resilient housing, including for SIBEPA ✓ low-income groups Modify short-term responses to flooding Review and strengthen flood warning systems MECDM; Division of Water ✓ Resources Review and strengthen flood education initiatives MECDM ✓ Provide hazard-proof evacuation shelters where gaps have been identified MECDM ✓ Note: MECDM = Ministry of Environment Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology; SIBEPA = Solomon Islands Built Environment Profes- sionals Association The flooding has irreparably damaged or completely destroyed 243 houses in Honiara, and around 432 houses in Guadalcanal Province. Burns Creek community. Photo: RAMSI / 45 6. Summary of Recovery and Reconstruction Needs The following tables present the needs for recovery and long term in order to restore livelihood and services reconstruction, prioritized as short-, medium-, and long- in the various sectors. The majority of activities are term activities. The time frames for these interventions to be completed in the medium to long term. Funding are purely indicative, since timing will depend in part priorities should be established in consultation with the on institutional arrangements and both domestic and government and its development partners. external financial support. For further information on these requirements, see the discussion of individual sectors in chapter 4. 6.2 Future funding requirements Preliminary discussions among sectors and development Table 30 summarizes the estimated costs for recov- partners indicate that some US$13.58 million may be ery and reconstruction. Total recovery and reconstruc- available to assist with recovery and reconstruction; tion is estimated at SI$401 million (US$56.03 million). this would reduce the bill to US$41.5 million. Similarly, Of this amount, SI$99 million (US$14.59 million) is re- some sectors—e.g., health and education, water and quired in the short term (three to six months), with the sanitation—may be able to bear some of the costs of remaining activities intended for the medium to long damage repair from their sector budget support. A term (beyond six months) and expected to include some donor pledging conference should be co-convened by the build back better initiatives. Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination (MDPAC) and MoFT to establish the full potential of donor contributions. Equally, internal discussions with 6.1 Recovery and reconstruction needs line ministries should be held to establish the level of Table 31 details the recovery and reconstruction financial costs that can be absorbed from sector budget activities to be commenced in the short, medium, and support. Table 30: Total Recovery and Reconstruction Needs (US$ million) Sector Short-Term Medium- to Long-Term Total Transport 5.84 28.81 34.65a Water and sanitation 0.74 4.50 5.24b Agriculture 2.90 2.73 5.63c Housing 2.62 2.62 Health and education 1.49 5.42 6.91 Total 13.59 41.46 55.03 Source: Estimates based on official data from the Solomon Islands government. a. Early indications suggest that US$12.08 million of this has already been sourced. Please refer to the discussion of transport (section 4.1). b. Around US$370,000 has been received from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australia and World Vision. Please refer to the discussion of water and sanitation (section 4.2). c. Approximately US$1.13 million indicated; see section 4.3 on the agriculture sector. 46 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 Table 31: Recovery and Reconstruction Needs Short- Medium- Long- Sector Activity US$ Term Term Term Repair to unpaved roads 50,000 x     Repair to paved roads 1,828,000 x   Repair to bridges 2,361,000 x   Repair to culverts and road-related drainage 206,000 x   Repairs to Henderson Airport 1,393,000 x   Transport Repair to unpaved roads 229,000 x   Repair to paved roads 522,000 x   Repair to bridges 2,655,000 x   Repair to culverts and road-related drainage 639,000 x   Improvements to bridges including climate proofing 23,888,000 x Improvements to culverts including climate proofing 878,000     x Rehabilitation of hand-dug wells 130,000 x   Development and dissemination of basic hygiene messages to communities 70,000 x   Additional water quality treatment, monitoring, and control 50,000 x   Replenishment of RWSS warehouse 490,000 x   Drilling of boreholes in affected communities to be fitted with hand/ solar pumps 140,000 x   Water & Repair of affected piped water supplies and rainwater harvesting sanitation systems in Guadalcanal Province 310,000 x   Supply of WASH services to new population centers 100,000 x   Use of BBB/disaster risk reduction approach in hand-dug shallow wells 1,920,000 x Duplication of Kongulai gravity main 1,750,000 x x Development of municipal wastewater collection and treatment master plan 80,000 x x Development of water supply master plan 80,000 x x Development of Honiara drainage master plan 110,000 x x Provision of seeds, seedlings, suckers, cuttings, and other agricultural inputs for replanting of crops 1,900,000 x     Cash for work activities for community-level cleaning to enable affected families to meet food needs, purchase equipment, and/or rebuild animal housing and restock 1,000,000 x   Support for promotion of resilient agriculture techniques (intercropping, fruit tree planting, integrated farming systems using permaculture technique); support for community nurseries, techniques for improved resilience against floods (e.g., improved drainage systems, training in disaster risk reduction techniques— including traditional storage techniques) 1,600,000 x x Agriculture Support for MAL and Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources in developing tools for assessing damage and loss needs, including support for the development of accurate baseline information. 10,000 x x Support for restocking, rehabilitation of livestock structure with BBB technique, restoration of water facilities for household chickens and pigs, and designation of an area where they can be safely evacuated during heavy floods. 600,000 x x Boosting of sustainable production through investing in both research and local capacity building by introducing lower-cost, locally available ingredients into commercial feeds as a way to improve profit margins. 5,000 x x Provision of fishing gears and equipment 240,000 x x Promotion of community fisheries–based management 270,000   x x 6. Summary of Recovery and Reconstruction Needs / 47 Table 31: Recovery and Reconstruction Needs (cont.) Medium- Long- Sector Activity US$ Short-Term Term Term Repair and upgrade program 1,800,000 x     Housing Provision of transitional shelter 820,000 x     Minor repair of flood damage to health centers 148,000 x   Recuperation of losses to health sector 649,000 x   Strengthening of coordination mechanisms within and outside the health sector 68,000 x x Health & Establishment of early warning and response system 76,000 x x education Carrying out of nutrition assessment of affected population 7,874 x x Carrying out of evidence-based nutritional interventions to protect young children 27,000 x x Minor repair of flood damage to schools 690,000 x   Reconstruction of schools 5,240,000 x Flood risk Flood risk management and urban resilience 1,000,000 x management Total needs   56,029,874  14,585,000  41,444,874  The flooding has irreparably damaged or completely destroyed 243 houses in Honiara, and around 432 houses in Guadalcanal Province. Riverbank erosion, lower Mataniko River. Photo: Stephen Yeo / 49 Annex 1: List of People Consulted Ishmael Alulu, Ministry of Infrastructure Development Salvador Jiao, Project Manager, Rapid Employment Project Ronald Amigo, Deputy City Clerk, Honiara City Council Don Johnston, International Federation of Red Cross Kent Asagolomo, Guadalcanal Province Moses Karuni, Honiara City Council Hearly Atupule, Deputy Director Livestock, Technical Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Charles Kelly, City Clerk, Honiara City Council Development Luke Kiddle, Senior Development Officer, New Zealand Audrey Aumua, World Health Organization High Commission Simon Baete, Deputy Director Livestock, Research and Douglas Kimie, Government Statistician, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Finance and Treasury Development Mathew Korinihona, Solomon Islands Electricity Jay Bartlett, Hatanga Authority Dr. Chris Becha, Ministry of Health and Medical Services Gus Kraus, Operation Manager, Solomon Airlines Roger Benzie, New Britain Palm Oil, Guadalcanal Plains Louisa Laekeni, National Archives Solomon Islands Kerryn Bouyer, NPH Naoko Laka, Japan International Cooperation Agency Lance Cash, Media Relations Adviser, Honiara City Peter Lawther, International Federation of Red Cross Council Isaac Lekelalu, Division of Water Resources, Ministry of Samantha Chapman, World Health Organization Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification Lucinda Coates, Risk Frontiers, Macquarie University Nicholas Leleu, Ministry of Civil Aviation Frank Daukalia, Solomon Water Francis Lomo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation Dr. Joel Denty, Guadalcanal Province Max Lua, Guadalcanal Provincial Government Nick Dutta, World Health Organization Eric Lui, First Secretary, Development, Australian High Brian Halisanau, Ministry of Civil Aviation Commission Tim Harris, Acting Director, Solomon Islands Maritime Esmy Magu, Ministry of Health and Medical Services Safety Administration Simon McGree, Australian Bureau of Meteorology Leon Hickie, Provincial Fisheries Division, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Scott McNamara, First Secretary, Economic Infrastructure, Australian High Commission Michael Ho’ota, Director Agriculture Extension, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Sarah Mecartney, UN-Habitat John Hughes, Transport Policy and Coordination Charles Meke, Crisis Response Intervention Support Adviser, Ministry of Infrastructure Development Program Ridha Jebeniani, World Health Organization John Norton, Norton Consulting 50 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 Jimmy Nuake, Under Secretary, Ministry of Matt Shortus, World Health Organization Infrastructure Development Adrian Simbe, Honiara City Council Divi Ogaoga, Ministry of Health and Medical Services David Spring, Team Leader, Transport Sector Moses Pelomo, Chairperson, Kastom Garden Association Development Project, Ministry of Infrastructure Development Hamptan Pitu, Crisis Response Intervention Support Program Peter Spring, SKM Alex Rilifia, Solomon Islands Meteorological Service Francis Tofuakalo, Director, Provincial Fisheries Division, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Harry Rini, Director, Central Project Implementing Unit, Ministry of Infrastructure Development Lily Wane, Women in Agriculture, Department Agriculture Extension, Ministry of Agriculture and Carol Robertson, Risk Frontiers, Macquarie University Livestock Development Emma Rooke, Chief Veterinary Officer, Ministry of Peter Weston, World Vision International Agriculture and Livestock Development Michael Wyatt, Ministry of Health and Medical Services Jimmy Saelea, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Loti Yates, National Disaster Management Office Traffic chaos following loss of bridges. Photo: Solomon Star Annex 2: Estimation of Damage to Transport Infrastructure Estimated Estimated Restoration Cost of Building Estimated Medium- to Emergency Cost, Medium- Back Better Short-Term Long-Term Cost   Type of Damage Location Repairs (US$) Term (US$) (US$) Cost (US$) (US$) Rural roads     49,259.80 228,564.39 – 49,259.80 – Unpaved roads Total network             Landslide Verahue 4,450.77 68,473.45   4,450.77 – Shoulder erosion Savauhi Village 58,750.22   – – Debris Verahue Village (central east) 7,121.24     7,121.24 – Landslide Verahue Village (central west) 21,363.72     21,363.72 – West Guadalcanal Landslide Verahue Village (Western End) 6,231.08     6,231.08 – Damaged roads Nuhu River 9,791.70     9,791.70 – Damaged roads Lambi School (Western End)   19,583.41   – – Damaged roads Lambi School (Eastern End)   17,803.10   – – Malaita Damaged roads North Malaita 53,409.29 – – Isabel Landslide Haevo Road 301.28 10,544.91   301.28 – Urban roads     1,827,830.35 521,973.13 – 1,827,830.35 – Highway adjacent to Henderson Damaged roads 80,113.94     80,113.94 – East Guadalcanal airport Damaged roads 1km after Metabona Bridge 26,704.65 3,560.62   26,704.65 – Damaged roads Vara Creek road to Tuvaruhu Road 256,090.71     256,090.71 – Damaged roads Lio Creek (Panatina) Road 9,038.50 53,409.29   9,038.50 – East Honiara Highway—Lawson Damaged roads 106,202.33     106,202.33 – Tama to KGIV Damaged roads St. Martyn’s Road 167,212.17     167,212.17 – Damaged roads Tuvaruhu Road 406,732.31     406,732.31 – Kola Ridge Road (Honiara Highway Damaged roads 301.28 11,298.12   301.28 – Honiara to Tanuli Road) Damaged roads Zion Road 35,400.78     35,400.78 – Damaged roads Langakiki–Mbokona Loop   256,090.71   – – Damaged roads Tasahe B Road 632,694.70   632,694.70 – Damaged roads Rifle Range Road 11,448.76     11,448.76 – Damaged roads Skyline-Mbokonavera Road 195,834.08   – – Damaged roads Independence Valley 71,856.04     71,856.04 – Damaged roads Turtle Beach Culvert 2 24,034.18     24,034.18 – West Guadalcanal Fallen trees White River to Sasa 1,780.31   – – Annex 2: Estimation of Damage to Transportation Infrastructure / 51 Estimated Estimated Restoration Cost of Building Estimated Medium- to Emergency Cost, Medium- Back Better Short-Term Long-Term Cost   Type of Damage Location Repairs (US$) Term (US$) (US$) Cost (US$) (US$) Bridges     2,360,197.75 2,654,387.09 23,887,610.93 2,360,197.75 23,887,610.93 West approach washed Mbalasuna Bridge 20,542.04 249,243.37 2,054,203.59 20,542.04 2,054,203.59 away 2 upstream piers damaged Mberande Bridge 1,780.31 267,046.47 2,054,203.59 1,780.31 2,054,203.59 Debris Ngalanimbui Bridge 4,450.77     4,450.77 – Debris Vouza Bridge (Mberande bridge) 2,738.94     2,738.94 – East Guadalcanal Damage to western Kovelau Bridge   34,236.73 136,946.91 – 136,946.91 abutment Mbokikimbo Bridge 4,450.77   6,847,345.28 4,450.77 6,847,345.28 Damaged bridge Gold Ridge Bridge 68,473.45   205,420.36 68,473.45 205,420.36 Scouring to embankment of Lungga Bridge 512,181.43     512,181.43 – western abutment Eastern abutment washed New Mataniko Bridge 602,566.39   5,287,500.00 602,566.39 5,287,500.00 out Honiara Bridge washed away, Old Mataniko Bridge 684,734.53 30,128.32 4,700,000.00 684,734.53 4,700,000.00 removal of sunk bridge Debris removal White River bailey Bridge 150.64     150.64 – Approach slabs collapsed Tomba Bridge 227,879.65 35,606.20 205,420.36 227,879.65 205,420.36 Collapsed gabion on eastern Poha Bridge 356,061.95   – – abutment Bridge approaches washed Tanavasa 72,992.70 356,061.95   72,992.70 – away Bridge approaches washed Sasa—low-level bridge 35,606.20 121,061.06 410,840.72 35,606.20 410,840.72 away Edge slip on approach slab Tanemba Causeway approach   3,026.53   – – Gabions washed away Tanemba Causeway   27,594.80   – – Erosion of the western Tanemba (Kohi Bridge)   32,935.73   – – West Guadalcanal abutment Eroded batter slopes Veravahu ford 15,132.63   – – 52 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 Western abutment and Selwyn Causeway 35,606.20 534,092.93   35,606.20 – approach slab collapsed Western abutment eroded Bahi Timber Bridge 29,375.11   301,283.19 29,375.11 301,283.19 1 span washed away Bora Timber Bridge 35,606.20   493,008.86 35,606.20 493,008.86 Erosion to western approach Hulavu Timber bridge 5,340.93   369,756.65 5,340.93 369,756.65 Western abutment washed Lambi Timber Bridge 6,231.08   273,893.81 6,231.08 273,893.81 away (partial) Scouring to eastern Mbonege Bridge   26,704.65   – – abutment Estimated Estimated Restoration Cost of Building Estimated Medium- to Emergency Cost, Medium- Back Better Short-Term Long-Term Cost   Type of Damage Location Repairs (US$) Term (US$) (US$) Cost (US$) (US$) Bridges (cont.) Collapsed gabion on western Belamatanga Bridge 213,637.17   – – West Guadalcanal abutment Debris Tamboko Bridge   5,340.93   – – Eastern approach slab Makira Waihauru causeway 1,958.34 105,449.12 547,787.62 1,958.34 547,787.62 collapsed Isabel Collapsed log bridge Buala-Garanga 7,532.08 241,026.55   7,532.08 – Culverts and other road drainage     203,503.10 638,788.84 876,460.20 203,503.10 876,460.20 works Clogged culvert Ngaliraugha—cross drainage 9,942.35     9,942.35 – Scoured culvert Tasahe Drive intersection   210,898.23   – – Honiara Highway in Rove area (St. John’s Insufficient culvert 10,544.91 158,173.68   10,544.91 – School) Damaged culvert CBSI culvert 3,204.56     3,204.56 – Collapsed gabion wall Mbonege Box culvert 12,462.17 8,901.55   12,462.17 – Scoured culvert Turtle Beach culvert 1 14,242.48 53,409.29 205,420.36 14,242.48 205,420.36 Buried culvert Tabea Market culvert 14,242.48   – – Insufficient culvert Kakabona culvert 53,409.29     53,409.29 – Bridge approaches washed Arulugo 6 cell culvert (Sasa ford) 67,651.77 106,818.59 205,420.36 67,651.77 205,420.36 away Culvert washed away Lambi (Aloha Village) 23,144.03   123,252.22 23,144.03 123,252.22 West Guadalcanal Downstream washed away Tanaghai Arc culvert   51,628.98 273,893.81 – 273,893.81 Insufficient culvert Tanaghai School culvert   10,681.86   – – Tanaghai reinforced concrete box Insufficient culvert   10,681.86   – – culvert Outlet scoured Mbonege pipe culvert-1 8,901.55     8,901.55 – Damaged culvert Belamatanga culvert 1   1,068.19   – – Damaged culvert Belamatanga culvert 2   356.06   – – Scoured outlet Tamboko reinforced concrete box 4,450.77   – – Scoured wing wall Ngatu 8 cell culvert   7,121.24   – – West Guadalcanal Damaged culvert Aroligo culvert   356.06 68,473.45 – 68,473.45 Annex 2: Estimation of Damage to Transportation Infrastructure / 53 Estimated Estimated Restoration Cost of Building Estimated Medium- to Emergency Cost, Medium- Back Better Short-Term Long-Term Cost   Type of Damage Location Repairs (US$) Term (US$) (US$) Cost (US$) (US$) Airport     639,164.04 753,207.98 – 1,392,372.02 – Perimeter fence (500 Henderson Airport 205,420.36     205,420.36 – metres) Drainage culvert outlet Henderson Airport 89,015.49     89,015.49 –   runway   Domestic terminal and Henderson Airport 22,218.23     22,218.23 –   offices   Runway markings Henderson Airport 205,420.36     205,420.36 –   Runway lighting system Henderson Airport 117,089.60     117,089.60 –   Perimeter road   Henderson Airport   191,725.67   191,725.67 – reconstruction   Back road reconstruction Henderson Airport   314,977.88   314,977.88 –   Outer drainage Henderson Airport   109,557.52   109,557.52 – reconstruction Domestic car park Henderson Airport   136,946.91   136,946.91 – reconstruction Maritime  None             TOTAL     $5,079,955.04 $4,796,921.43 $24,764,071.12 $5,833,163.02 $24,764,071.12 54 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 Annex 3: Location of Cuts to Road Access / 55 Annex 3: Location of Cuts to Road Access 3 4 2 1 1 1 6 5 8 7 ID No. Easting Northing Location 1 599085 8958303 Tanavasa 2 584317 8972646 Sasa Ford ID No. Easting Northing Location 3 583033 8972996 Sasa Honiara Central 1 60582 895653 Old Mataniko Bridge West Coast Route 4 568259 8973094 Selwyn Causway 5 566730 8971665 Bahi Timber Bridge ID No. Easting Northing Location East Coast Route 6 565826 8962269 Bora Timber Bridge 1 64910 89533 Mbokokimbo Bridge 7 566056 8961292 Hulavu Timber Bridge ID No. Easting Northing Location Gold Ridge Mine 8 566772 8960038 Lambi Timber Bridge N/A N/A N/A Passable Crossing 56 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 Annex 4: List of Build Back Better Structures in Transport Sector Preliminary Cost Existing Structure and State of Location Preliminary Assessed Option Estimate Damage (US$ million) Low-level bridge; road cut off due High-level bridge including climate Mbalasuna Bridge, East Guadalcanal to debris accumulation; approaches 2.10 proofing washed away Low-level bridge; 2 piers damaged; High-level bridge including climate Mberande Bridge, East Guadalcanal road cut off due to debris accumula- 2.10 proofing tion and washed away structures Mbokokimbo Bridge, East Guadal- Existing engineered ford damaged High-level bridge 7.00 canal Gold Ridge Bridge East Guadalcanal Upgrade 0.21 Upstream 2-lane bridge (financed New Mataniko Bridge, Honiara 5.30 by JICA) Bailey bridge washed away; new Old Mataniko Bridge, Honiara Bailey bridge was completed in June New bridge (financed by JICA) 4.70 2014 Tomba Bridge, West Guadalcanal Climate proofing and river training 0.21 Sasa Bridge Low-level bridge Climate proofing and river training 0.42 Bahi Timber Bridge, West Guadal- Timber bridge Low-level bridge 0.31 canal Bora Timber Bridge, West Guadal- Timber bridge Low-level bridge 0.50 canal Hulavu Timber bridge, West Guadal- Timber bridge Low-level bridge 0.38 canal Lambi Timber Bridge, West Guadal- Timber bridge Low-level bridge 0.28 canal Waihauru, Makira Causeway Low-level bridge 0.56 Turtle Beach culvert Culvert Single-span bridge 0.21 Aruligo (Sasa Ford) 6-cell culvert Climate proofing and river training 0.21 Lambi (Aloha Village) Culvert Single-span bridge 0.13 Tanaghai Arch culvert Culvert Single-span bridge 0.28 Total 24.90 Note: JICA = Japan International Cooperation Agency. Annex 5: Seasonal Crop Calendar, Guadalcanal Province / 57 Annex 5: Seasonal Crop Calendar, Guadalcanal Province Crops Planting to Harvest Season (months)   J F M A M J J A S O N D Wet season Dry season Wet season Cocoa                         Coconut (copra)                         Palm oil                         Taro                         Cassava                         Yam                         Sweet potato                         Pineapple                         Pawpaw                         Banana                         Leafy vegetables                         Slippery cabbage                         Pana                           = planting   = low yield   = high yield   = year round 58 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 Annex 6: Damage and Loss to Health Facilities (US$) Facilities Damage Loss Total Large damage 99,971 Pikinini 27,389 27,389 White River 31,498 13,695 Smaller damage – 20,541 Mataniko 6,847 New Tenabuti 13,694 Nurse aid posts 27,388 Selwyn 6,847 6,847 Tinaghulu 6,847 6,847 Total US$ 93,122 US$ 54,778 US $147,900 Annex 7: List of Schools with Reported Damage / 59 Annex 7: List of Schools with Reported Damage Ruavatu Provincial Secondary School (PSS) Kaotave Community High School (CHS) Ngalibiu Primary Kelyn Primary White River CHS Tuvaruhu CHS Lunga CHS Tumurora Primary Mbalasuna Primary St Joseph’s Tenaru National Secondary School (NSS) Burns Creek CHS Mbokonavera CHS King George VI NSS Sali Primary School Honiara High PSS Turarana CHS Naha CHS Coronation CHS Koloale CHS Mbokona CHS Bishop Epalle CHS Mbua Valley CHS Komukama Pitukoli Ghaobata CHS 60 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 Annex 8: Cycle of Increasing Risk No forward planning/ serviced land for low- or middle-income High Unmanaged natural hazard urban growth risk setting Loss of life and Limited asset damage hydro-met data and losses and mapping Poor Limited hazard early response risk mapping in uptake spatial planning Increased debris Unplanned load and runoff, settlement on blocked drainage high risk land Destruction Insecure tenure of natural ➔ precarious environment structures Source: Stephen Yeo. Annex 9: Benchmarking Current Flood Risk management Practice / 61 Annex 9: Benchmarking Current Flood Risk Management Practice A forensic examination of the recent disaster suggests may reflect traditional building styles, there is little steps for reducing the risk of loss of life (and other doubt that many floors have been deliberately raised in impacts) in future flooding events, but a broader review flood-prone locations. Over recent years, development of flood risk management practice in the Solomon Islands partners have supported the installation of community- is also valuable. This review adapts some of the measures based early warning systems (see below). However, a used by Babister and Retallick (2013) to assess current considered, integrated application of the full suite of practice against best practice. flood risk management measures—both structural and nonstructural—over the full range of flood risk has yet to find expression in the Solomon Islands. Hazard assessment (mapping) Mapping of floods and floodplains is foundational for understanding and managing flood risk. To date, mapping Integrating hazard knowledge into spatial in the Solomon Islands has been confined to historical plans flood extents and/or to geomorphic assessments. Land-use planning is one component of best-practice Notable is the work of Trustrum, Whitehouse, and floodplain risk management, particularly to contain Blaschke (1989), which mapped the extent of flooding future flood risk. Used in association with appropriate associated with Tropical Cyclone Namu in 1986 as far incentives such as property taxes (rates), long-term west as the Lungga floodplain, but did not extend to infrastructure investments, and siting of commercial, Honiara. health, and education facilities, it is a useful tool for guiding future urban growth away from flood-prone A challenge for developing the more sophisticated areas. But in Honiara, flood risk constraints seem to mapping products derived from hydrologic and hydraulic have been given little consideration in urban planning, models is the fragmented and poor nature of hydrological and efforts to curb the growth of informal settlements records in the Solomon Islands (SPC 2012, 122–38). on highly flood-prone land, and to make serviced land available for sale or lease to homeowners of all income groups, have been inadequate or ineffective. Risk assessment A risk assessment considering both the likelihood and consequences of flooding is essential for quantifying Warning/education flood risk and comparing the merits of alternative flood The Solomon Islands Meteorological Service issues risk management options. No evidence for this approach heavy rain alerts and warnings, and the National Disaster has been uncovered in the Solomon Islands. Management Office adds information, broadcast via the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation and FM radio stations, about what residents should do in response. Floodplain management measures During the April 2014 flood, the director of NDMO was Flooding problems in the Solomon Islands appear to on the air encouraging people to evacuate during the have been managed largely on an ad hoc and informal day. It is understood that these broadcasts had been basis. Some villages have relocated after floods, such undergirded by various flood education messages, such as Sasa in northwestern Guadalcanal after the 2009 as “Flooding: Find out about the worst flood in your disaster (Lal and Thurairajah 2011). Many houses are area—would it reach your home?” and “Risky or not? raised well above the ground, and while this design You make up your mind.” 62 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 In recent years there has been significant investment damaging flooding rather than in advance of it. A UN- in community-based early warning systems in rural Habitat (2012) report identified the acute vulnerability Guadalcanal, including at Tamboko Village. Three out of of the Koa Hill community—even including it on a map— four of these systems are said to have been operational but evidently no substantive measures were introduced and effective in the April 2014 flood. to reduce its exposure to flash flooding prior to the April 2014 disaster. Only now, after the flood, does there seem to be a determination to address the risk. Strategic management Flood risk management initiatives in the Solomon Islands have typically been reactive, taking place in response to Cleanup near mouth of the Mataniko River. Photo: Solomon Star Annex 10: Institutional Aspects / 63 Annex 10: Institutional Aspects General arrangements (DRM) throughout the country (see figure 17). It includes arrangements for preparing for, managing, The National Disaster Risk Management Plan of and recovering from disaster events and establishes the Solomon Islands government (2009) specifies institutional mechanisms for addressing disaster risk institutional arrangements for disaster risk management reduction, including climate change adaptation. Figure 17: Disaster Risk Management Organizational Arrangements International Regional National International Cabinet Regional Bi-lateral arrangements Accountable Minister Provincial Municipal Municpal Provincial Council Assembly National Disaster Council International Planning Planning Regional Bi-lateral Reporting Reporting Chair: arrangements PS for DRM Municipal Disaster Provincial Disaster Committee Committee Chair: Chair: NDC Committees City Clerk Prov. Secretary DM Arrangements & N-DOC – Dir. NDMO Hazards – PS ECM Recovery & Rehabilitation & RCC – PS DPAC Risk Reduction – PS Lands MDC/PDC Sub Committees DRM Arrangements & P-DOC – Deputy Prov. Sec. Recovery & Rehabilitation – Prov. Sec. Response Support Recovery Clusters Clusters Clusters • Sectors • Sectors • Sectors • NGOs • NGOs • NGOs Ward & Village • Donors Disaster Risk Committees Ward & Village Disaster Risk Chair: Local / Committees Traditional Ward & Village Leader Disaster Risk Chair: Local / Committees Traditional Leader Chair: Local / Traditional Leader Community Village 64 / Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 The National Disaster Council is the strategic able to quickly make schools available as short-term decision-making body for mobilizing resources, setting evacuation centers, raise food relief from the business priorities, and advising the cabinet during a disaster. It is community, and clear debris in some areas.6 Learning also responsible for the overview of disaster events and from its emergency response procedures, the Honiara the management of international, regional, and bilateral City Council has made a number of changes to its plan support arrangements for DRM through the National and to DRM organizational arrangements in order to Disaster Coordinating Committee’s cluster groups. The improve communications between key departments. Recovery and Rehabilitation Committee of the Council is chaired by the permanent secretary of MDPAC, the Village disaster risk committees are to be established Risk Reduction Committee is chaired by the permanent at the village and associated settlement level or where secretary of MLHS, and the Hazard Committee is chaired appropriate. Villages, families, and individuals within a by the permanent secretary of Ministry of Environment village disaster risk committee are to provide for a local Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology disaster planning network, including local arrangements (MECDM). The National Disaster Council ideally would for early warning, management of disaster response, and task the three committees with forming a working group handling of hazard and risk reduction issues (including to provide direction and oversight to any build back climate change). better/BSURE strategy.5 The National Disaster Management Office functions Flood risk management as the Secretariat of the National Disaster Council and is responsible for coordinating, developing, and implement- Part 1, section 18 of the National Disaster Risk ing DRM. Provincial/municipal governments—including Management Plan refers to the need for hazard-specific Honiara City Council—are required to establish provin- contingency plans. It is understood that these, along with cial disaster committees (PDCs) or municipal disaster standard operating procedures for the National Disaster committees (MDCs), and must also make ward-level and Council and its committees, have yet to be prepared. local-level arrangements for disaster management and Table 32 presents a preliminary assessment of the key risk reduction. PDCs/MDCs are responsible to their exec- players involved (whether intentionally or unknowingly) utive for arrangements and planning for DRM, consistent in flood risk management in Honiara. Early discussions with the national plan. They are also responsible to the indicate there may be a need for greater coordination council for managing and coordinating the response to between the Physical Planning Division of MLHS and disaster events within their jurisdiction. Honiara City Council so as to avoid duplication, as well as between the Meteorological Division of MECDM and Each PDC/MDC is supposed to prepare its own the Hydrology Unit of the Ministry of Mines, Energy DRM plan. Honiara City Council prepared a DRM plan and Rural Electrification so as to ensure delivery of an in 2013. During the April 2014 floods, the council was integrated hydrometeorological warning service. 5 The working group would include representatives from Guadalcanal Provincial Council, Honiara City Council, Malaita Provincial Council, and Western Provincial Council. 6 The Honiara City Council has prohibited the disposal of construction and demolition waste in the registered landfill site. The safe disposal of such waste is not currently catered for. Rapid Assessment of the Macro and Sectoral Impacts of Flash Floods in the Solomon Islands, April 2014 / 65 Table 32: Key Government Organizations Involved in Flood Risk Management in Honiara Modify the Hazard Modify Exposure and Modify Short-Term Vulnerability Responses Road drainage, Ministry of Infrastructure Development bridge design Ministry of Forests Watershed management Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Watershed management Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination National planning Commissioner of Lands, Ministry of Lands, Housing and Land approvals Survey Honiara Town and Country Planning Board Planning approvals Honiara City Council Waste removal Building approvals Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Weather warnings, Management and Meteorology community education Division of Water Resources, Ministry of Mines, Energy River level monitoring and Rural Electrification Village disaster risk committees are to be established at the village and associated settlement level or where appropriate. Villages, families, and individuals within a village disaster risk committee are to provide for a local disaster planning network, including local arrangements for early warning, management of disaster response, and handling of hazard and risk reduction issues (including climate change). Community group discussion. Photo: World Bank References and Materials Consulted / 67 References and Materials Consulted Babister, M., and M. Retallick. 2013. “Defining Best Prac- Hutton, G., L. Haller, and J. Bartram. 2007. “Global tice in Floodplain Management.” Paper presented at Cost-Benefit Analysis of Water Supply and Sanitation “National Floodplain Management—Shared Experi- Interventions.” Journal of Water Health 5(4): 481– ences, National Solutions,” Floodplain Management 502. Association National Conference, Tweed Heads, New South Wales, May 28–31. 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