RESPONSE TO HADR EVENTS IN THE PACIFIC NEW ZEALAND RESPONSE TO HADR EVENTS IN THE PACIFIC

AT 0648 HOURS ON TUESDAY 29 SEP SAMOA TIME ( WHICH IS 0648 HOURS WEDNESDAY 30 SEP NZDT) AN 8.3 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE APPROX 180KM OFF THE SOUTHERN COAST OF SAMOA GENERATED A TSUNAMI CAUSING WIDESPREAD DAMAGE AND DEATH ALONG THE SOUTH COAST OF WESTERN SAMOA, AMERICAN SAMOA AND THE NORTHERN TONGAN ISLAND OF NIUATOPUTAPU. INITIAL REPORTS WERE THAT MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE MAY HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES. EXACT DETAILS WERE UNKNOWN. NEW ZEALAND COMMENCED EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND BROADER PLANNING BASED ON A COMBINATION OF FORMAL REQUESTS. NEW ZEALAND RECEIVED A FORMAL REQUEST FROM SAMOA REQUESTING AN AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHT TO ASSESS DAMAGE. THIS WAS DISPATCHED ON 30 SEP NZDT AND WAS BASED IN APIA FOR 2 NIGHTS. SAMOAN HIGH COMMISSION IN CANBERRA DELIVERED A HAND WRITTEN NOTE TO THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT REQUESTING ASSISTANCE. THE FRANZ ARRANGEMENT WAS ACTIVATED.

FRANZ ARRANGEMENT FRance, Australia and New Zealand In 1992, signed a joint statement on disaster relief cooperation in the South Pacific Purpose is to exchange information and coordinate support in the event of a natural disaster THE FRANZ ARRANGEMENT IS QUITE UNIQUE. IT IS RELATIVELY INFORMAL, IS BASED ON GOODWILL, AND CONTAINS A SIMPLE POLITICAL STATEMENT OF THE INTENT TO HAVE FRANCE, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND WORK TOGETHER DURING NATURAL DISASTERS. IT IS ALSO A PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENT, WHEREBY THJE SUM OF THE WHOLE IS GREATER THAN ITS PARTS. FRANZ IS ABOUT TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RIGHT ASSET MIX IS USEDTO PROVIDE THE MOST RELIEF. FRANZ PARTNERS CONDUCT AN ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING EVERY YEAR TO RENEW CONTACT AND EXCHANGE INFORMATION. EVERY SECOND YEAR THEY CONDUCT A TABLE TOP EXERCISE TO PRACTISE THEIR COMBINED RESPONSE TO EVENTS IN THE PACIFIC. THE MEETING THIS YEAR WAS HELD IN NOUMEA ON 28-29 SEP 09. THE TSUNAMI OCCURRED ON 30 SEP 09. FRANZ PARTICIPANTS CONVENED AT THE FRENCH HIGH COMMISSION IN NOUMEA AT 1000 ON 30 SEP 09. THE SAMOAN GOVERNMENT HAD ALREADY REQUESTED ASSISTANCE SO THE FRANZ PARTNERS IDENTIFIED ASSETS THAT COULD BE DEPLOYED DEPENDING ON THE NEED.

RESPONSE MECHANISMS FRANZ responds to a Government request Aim is to support the host country’s own response mechanisms – usually the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) The scope of the disaster, and therefore the need, is often difficult to assess quickly A LEAD NATION IS NOMINATED TO COORDINATE THE RESPONSE. IN THIS CASE NEW ZEALAND WAS APPOINTED LEAD COORDINATOR DUE TO OUR HISTORICAL, CULTURAL AND POLITICAL TIES TO SAMOA. INFORMATION CONTINUED TO TRICKLE IN FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES: MEDIA REPORTING CONSULAR POSTS IN THE AFFECTED AREAS NDMOS NGOS RELATIVES AND FRIENDS LOCALS NZDF AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE SAMOAN POLICE FORCE TONGAN DEFENCE SERVICES

IMMEDIATE RESPONSE Australia and New Zealand responded quickly to Samoa, with C130s despatched late 30 Sep with relief supplies and specialist medical teams 1 Oct first RNZAF Iroquois helicopter transported to Samoa by C130 Reports from Tonga advised Tonga Defence Services were leading the Tongan response THE COAST REGIONS ON THE SOUTH OF SAMOA HAD BORNE THE BRUNT OF THE TSUNAMI. FORTUNATELY OVER 90% OF SAMOA’S INFRASTRUCTURE WAS OK AND ABLE TO RESPOND QUICKLY. HELICOPTERS PROVIDED THE SPEED AND AGILITY TO ACCESS REMOTE AREAS AND EVACUATE WOUNDED. THEY ASSISTED IN NEEDS ASSESSMENTS AND TRANSPORTATION OF RELIEF STORES. THE TONGA DEFENCE SERVICES RESPONDED WELL BUT DID NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES NECESSARY TO COMPLETE ALL THE WORK REQUIRED ON NIUATOPUTAPU. THE RECENT LOSS OF THE FERRY PRINCESS ASHIKA MEANT TONGA DOES NOT HAVE ANY MARINE ASSETS TO TRANSPORT HEAVY EQUIPMENT.

CONCURRENT DISASTERS On 1 Oct a 7.9 magnitude earthquake occurred off Sumatra Australian medical teams remained in Samoa, but Australian efforts were redirected to Indonesia France agreed to support Tonga, and despatched relief stores and personnel to Nuku'alofa. FNS RIVA transported them to Niuatoputapu

Contributions to Relief Phase NZ contributed air and sealift assets, relief supplies, reconstruction stores and personnel from 7 Government Departments France contributed air and sealift, medical support and relief supplies Australia contributed relief supplies, airlift and emergency surgical and medical teams NZ DEPLOYED PERSONNEL FROM NZAID, MFAT, MIN OF HEALTH, MIN CIVIL DEFENCE AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, NZ POLICE, AND CUSTOMS TO SAMOA. EMERGENCY TASK FORCE IN WELLINGTON IS THE ALL OF GOVERNMENT GROULD TASKED TO COORDINATE NZ RESPONSE AND IT INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES FROM ANOTHER SIX TO NINE DEPARTMENTS – DEPENDING ON THE EVENT. FRANZ USUALLY ONLY REMAINS ACTIVE FOR THE RELIEF AND INITIAL RECOVERY PHASES. CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION PHASE ARE MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH BILATERAL ARRANGEMENTS.

CONSIDERATIONS FRANZ will respond once asked Pacific nations – proud and working hard to be self-sufficient Host country must lead and be seen to lead the response FRANZ WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE ONLY WHEN ASKED – BUT BECAUSE A COUNTRY OVERWHELMED BY TRAGEDY CAN BE TOO SHOCKED TO MAKE RATIONAL DECISIONS, INFORMAL, EVEN VERBAL, REQUESTS FROM AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT WILL BE RESPECTED AND ACTIONED. THE SOVEREIGNTY OF NATIONS MUST BE RESPECTED. PACIFIC NATIONS ARE POLITE. THEY WILL RECEIVE ALL ASSISTANCE GRACIOUSLY, EVEN IF IT IS UNWANTED. HOWEVER, THAT TAKES EFFORT AWAY FROM THEIR OWN PRIORITIES AND HINDERS RELIEF EFFORTS.

OPERATION TSUNAMI Relief efforts must not overwhelm the Government Aid providers (including NGOs) must respond to local priorities and tasking Be sensitive to and observe cultural sensitivities WITH SMALL MINISTRIES, MANY PACIFIC NATIONS BECOME OVERWHELMED WHEN THEY ARE REQUIRED TO COORDINATE TOO MANY INDIVIDUAL DONORS. NEW ZEALAND AIMS TO COORDINATE ALL NZ GOVERNMENT SUPPORT EFFORTS THROUGH THE NZ POST IN COUNTRY. NZ NGOS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DO THE SAME. AID PROVIDERS OFTEN MAKE THEMSELVES FEEL GOOD, RATHER THAN THE RECIPIENT OF THE AID. CULTURAL AWARENESS IS IMPORTANT AND MUST BE CONSIDERED. RESTRICTING HELICOPTER MOVEMENTS ON A RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY MAY SLOW THE RELIEF OPERATION A LITTLE, BUT IT MAINTAINS THE GOODWILL OF THE LOCALS.

OPERATION TSUNAMI Questions?