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Solomon Islands’
tsunami response  After effects of the tsunami. Photo by UNDP Solomon Islands On 2 April 2007, an earthquake of 8.1 in magnitude struck just off the coast of a remote part of the Solomon Islands. The quake triggered a tsunami: 52 people lost their lives and infrastructure, schools and homes in coastal areas were badly damaged. More than 10,000 people living in this nation of islands were affected. UNDP’s rapid response built confidence among the government and other recovery partners during this time of crisis. Scattered island communities, with their limited communications and transport and under-resourced administrations, often make crisis response and recovery in the Pacific complex. When the tsunami struck the Solomon Islands, UNDP moved quickly to support the government in establishing an early recovery strategy, including a coordination unit within the administration. No one in the country office had experience dealing with crises of this magnitude and complexity, said UNDP Resident Representative Richard Dictus, “so we immediately requested SURGE [immediate crisis response] support.” The UNDP immediate crisis response deployment mechanism, which enables UNDP to send experienced and specially trained staff to the field within days of a crisis, had recently been established, and the Solomon Island response was the second time this mechanism was used. “In such a situation, I would have normally got out my cheque book and hired a bunch of consultants,” said Dictus. “While they would have got the job done, the UNDP immediate crisis response advisors brought with them more than the average consultant. They brought with them the experience their offices had facing similar situations,” he added. “This is when UNDP being a networked organization really works.” Both advisors deployed to the Solomon Islands had been part of UNDP’s response to the South Asian tsunami. With their support, UNDP developed an early recovery strategy with the Asian Development Bank and the government of the Solomon Islands within three weeks after the crisis. Two weeks after the tsunami struck the Solomon Islands, 6,000 people were still living in tents. The advisors helped develop a critically needed shelter strategy based on good practices learned in the Maldives. Through this work, standards for housing reconstruction were prepared, enabling the government to come up with an accurate cost for shelter rehabilitation work. “This was greatly appreciated by donors,” said Dictus. Responding immediately to establish the basis for early recovery has resulted in longer-term benefits. One year after the tsunami, the shelter strategy and associated standards are being implemented. In addition, UNDP’s swift and well organized response enabled the organization to build credibility with the government and other partners—leading to lasting and effective partnerships.
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