UN emergency teams assess damage in Pacific islands from Tropical Cyclone Percy

The devastation in several South Pacific islands from Tropical Cyclone Percy has been extensive, with hospitals, schools, housing and even temporary shelters having sustained damage, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said today.

The UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team, which has been at work since last weekend, said that in Tokelau the Nukunonu, Atafu and Fakaofo atolls have lost significant parts of their infrastructure, including damage from wind and floods to seawalls, hospital facilities, schools, an office building and a meeting house, while debris has collected in the villages.

Tokelauans have been cleaning up quickly so as to avoid health problems and immediate needs for food, shelter and medicines have been met, OCHA said.

In Pukapuka, 80 per cent of the housing was lost and roads were washed out, UNDAC said it learned from International Red Cross and Red Crescent Society representatives.

Tokelau has received relief aid of $360,000 from New Zealand, $39,000 from Australia and $50,000 from the UN Development Programme (UNDP), OCHA said.