Situation Report
SITREP number: 003 Reporting date: 19/12/24
Incident name: Port Vila Earthquake Reporting time: 17:00
Prepared by: Respond Global HELPR-1 Current Location: Port Vila
Response Voyage overview
HELPR-1 disembarked the Shefa Health team at Emua Wharf, including the Shefa PHM, PHA and
Shefa medical assistance team members to continue their response ashore.
HELPR-1 completed assessments in16 communities in Emau, Nguna, Pele, Moso and Lelepa.
Overall, in the communities visited, no injuries reported. One death was reported however this was
noted to have occurred in Port Vila (believed to be during the Earthquake) and body brought home
by family to Utanlangi on Nguna island.
No major damages infrastructure (roads and boat landings) and/or buildings
Telecommunication issues still experienced in most communities
Some communities reporting minor damage to water sources, risking contamination.
Reports of massive landslides on the uninhabited side of Emau Island.
HELPR-1 currently sailing for Port Vila with an ETA of 19:00 today.
Respond Global International surge support coordination team arriving Port Vila today, ETA 17:00.
Respond Global HELPR-1 SITREP 1Situation Report
Summary of response completed
HELPR-1 – Vessel
HELPR-1 sailed to Emua Wharf to drop off Shefa Health team including the Shefa Public health
Manager, Public Health Administrator and Shefa medical assistance team members to continue with
response ashore.
See attached excel for more details with contact details of person interviewed.
Community Assessments completed at the following locations:
Emau island- 6 villages
Ngurua – Assessment completed with Chairlady Akara Tapua.
– No casualties or injuries
– 2 shelters damaged
– Digicel working (phone only as per Efate), no internet available
– All community safe
– Food security: some banana trees fallen
– WASH: Water system undamaged
– 4 landslides on coastal area
Laosake – Assessment completed with Chief Tamata Noah
– No casualties or injuries
– School and aid-post undamaged
– Some damage to homes, cracks, door fallen into home etc
– Digicel working, no internet available
– Food security: no damage reported
– WASH: Water tanks and water supply ok, one concrete tank with cracks but still holding
water
– All community safe
– Roads and landings undamaged
Wiana – Assessment completed with Chief Malili, Tony
– No casualties or injuries
– Community hall cracked, door fallen
– Roads no damage
– Boat landing, edge collapsed
– Digicel working, no internet available
– Vodafone no service
– Food security: no damage
– WASH: water supply ok
Mara –Assessment completed with Area Administrator
– No casualties or injuries
– Roads and landings: no damage
– No damaged facilities
– Phone working, no internet
– All community safe
Respond Global HELPR-1 SITREP 2Situation Report
– Food security: ok
– WASH: water supply ok
Mangorango – Assessment completed with School principal, Seth Alick.
– No casualties or injuries
– Roads and landings, no damage
– No damaged facilities (public buildings)
– Reported damage to at least one home in community
– Digicel unstable
– All community safe
– Reported damage to gardens
– Water tank polluted
Mapua – Assessment completed with Area Administrator
– Roads and landings, no damage
– Telecommunication working
– All community safe
– No damaged facilities
– No damaged facilities
– Food security ok
– WASH water supply ok
Nguna island- 4 villages
Utanlangi – Assessment completed with Chief Willie Markau
– Only reported minor damage to some houses in community and roads to gardens, otherwise
all good.
– Reported one death, however noted this accident had occurred in Port Vila.
Taloa – Assessment completed with Chairman, Tarisu Tamara
– No casualties or injuries
– Reported water pump (bore hole) contaminated, but otherwise all good.
Unakap
– No casualties or injuries
– Reported minor damage to women’s club house
Nekara – Assessment completed with Chief Matakoroliu Tawia
– No casualties or injuries
– Reported 1 damaged household.
Pele island – 4 villages
Piliura – Assessment completed with Edward Lani
– Minor damage to community Nakamal
Worearu – Assessment completed with Chairman Enock Takawa
– No telecommunication
– Two water tanks damaged.
Respond Global HELPR-1 SITREP 3Situation Report
Laonamo – Assessment completed with Chief Charlie
– Water tanks good condition however contaminated
Worasifu – Assessment completed with Chief Malili John
– No telecommunication
Moso Island – 1 village
Tasiriki – Assessment completed with School Principal Paul kelsev and Chief Ruben Natamatewia
– Vodaphone and digicel but can not access internet
– Minor damage to school facility
Lelepa Island – 1 village
Mangatuia/Natapoa – Assessment completed with Edwin Tom
– 1x house damaged and 2x shelters collapsed
HELPR-1 – Port Vila Shore Team
– Continue logistics support to the Ministry of Health EMTCC and NHEOC (1 staff member)
– Continue logistics support to NEOC logistics and operations (1 staff member)
– Investigating berthing options as Sinovan Wharf damaged by earthquake. HELPR-1 will be at
anchor Port Vila tonight until berthing options confirmed tomorrow.
– Two Respond Global staff (Managing Director and HELPR-1 operations manager) arrived in
Port Vila via C17 from Amberley thanks to support from Australian Government this
afternoon.
Action for tomorrow (20th December 2024).
– Offer extra HELPR-1 personnel in support of VCH EOC and surgical ward (Doctor and Nurse),
and continue support to NEOC (NDMO), NHEOC/EMTCC (MoH) (Operations
coordinators/health data officers etc)
– Senior Surgeon will join VCH surgical rounds
– Senior Respond Global And HELPR-1 staff will attend Health and NDMO coordination
meetings and understand best use of HELPR-1/Respond Global staff and capacities
– Meeting team leads from National and International response teams
– Tasking of HELPR-1 Green Energy (two electricians and 1 data officer), Logistics and Clinical
teams TBC pending results of meetings
– HELPR-1 Marine Engineers – support Sinovan wharf with repairs to allow safe berthing
– HELPR-1 Refuelling and food resupply
Coordination and Communication
• No updates
Respond Global HELPR-1 SITREP 4Situation Report
HELPR-1 available capabilities to support response.
Local response capabilities ready for deployment on 20th December 2025
– Surge support to VCH as of 20th December 2024
o 1x Senior Surgeon – Dr Basil Leodoro
o 1 x Senior registered nurses (Milton Buka)
o 1x Data officer (Kalte Peter)
– Support to energy team
o 2 x solar technicians/Electricians (Jason Sese and Jameson Bani)
o 1 x data officer (Cecilia Kaluatman)
– Debris clearance + concrete cutting capabilities
o 4 x trained staff to operate chainsaws and concrete cutters (Lee Samuel, Jeffet
Naparau, Christian Ioan, Brian Watas)
o 3 x chainsaw kit boxes including PPE.
– Coordination support
o EOC with star link connectivity onboard HELPR-1
o VHF capability for shore teams and tenders
– HELPR-1 Vessel
o Available for deployment until the 23rd of December 2024.
o Has capability to produce 15,800 Litres fresh water/24 hours and store 26,000
Litres.
o Capability to refill medical oxygen bottles (from size B to size G) with oxygen
concentrator and compressor
International Response capability
– Disaster Coordination
o 2x Senior coordination staff arrived in country as of 19 December
– Further Clinical/medical surge support available (Doctors and Nurses) on standby in
Australia.
Respond Global HELPR-1 SITREP 5Situation Report
Forward activity plan
Day Date Activities
Friday 20/12/24 VCH EOC attendance and clinical assistance as required
Assist Sinovan Wharf with repairs
Continuous liaison with NEOC and NHEOC
Support from HEPR-1 Green Energy, Logistics, Clinical and
Coordination teams when deployed across Port Vila
Liaison and coordination support from RG HQ as required
Marine Crew & Project Staff fatigue management with crew rest and
checking on families after 3 week mission
Relief supplies delivered using HELPR1 in last 24 hours
Cargo Item Category Organisation Qty KG/L Island Village Date
delivered
Routine supplies*
*supplies that were planned for during routine Shefa mission were also delivered
Key contacts HELPR-1
Name Role Contacts
Dr Basil Leodoro Director of Operations +678 561 4289
Dr Ian Norton Managing Director +61 455 059 987
Barbara Daufanamae HELPR-1 Operations
Manager
+61 401366790
Rowan Lulu Operations Support and
Logistics Manager (NDMO
Liaison officer)
+678 555 0719
Christian Loan Logistics Officer (NHEOC
liaison officer)
+678 777 1243
Carolyn Patamisis Operations Coordinator
(Information
Management)
Whatsapp: +61 412022628
Mathew Williams HELPR-1 Captain +678 539 0113
Jill Jerrom Media and Comms Whatsapp: +61 414 551 467
Respond Global HELPR-1 SITREP 6Situation Report
SIT REP Distribution
• Vanuatu NDMO [email protected]
• MoH EOC [email protected]
• Australia High Commission
• PEOCs
• Partners
• Respond Global Incident Management Team
Respond Global HELPR-1 SITREP 7