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Indonesia

Indonesia: Earthquake OCHA Situation Report No. 3

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2005/0061
OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Indonesia Earthquake
30 March 2005

An earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale (according to the USGS) struck the west coast of Indonesia's Sumatra Island Monday 28 March 2005, at 23.09 pm (local Jakarta time) / 16.09 (UTC).

Several aftershocks have been reported in the Simeulue and Nias region (up to 15 ranging from 4.9 to 6.1 in magnitude).

SITUATION

Effects on Population

Casualties in Nias are currently reported to be 500 and rising. Local authorities place the death toll between 300-500 with the number of injured at possibly ten times this figure. A total of 20 people were airlifted out yesterday and another 30 today.

On Simeulue there are 9 confirmed dead and 47 injured, and the mainland reports 9 deaths and 2,400 displaced.

Along the West Coast in Meulaboh 3 fatalities and 40 injuries have been reported.

It has still not been possible to land on the Banyak Islands to make a full assessment.

Assessments and situation

Nias Island: The joint Government/Inter-Agency Mission continued its assessment, covering the capital, and the 4 next most populous areas. Aerial overviews of the smaller islands surrounding Nias have been taken. The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) are carrying out further assessments on Nias Island.

BAKORNAS reports significant damage to infrastructure, including roads, bridges, power supplies and airports. Widespread collapse of buildings is reported in Gunung Sitoli ( the capital of Nias) and Teluk Dalam (capital of South Nias Regency). Between 20% to 50% of buildings in Gunung Sitoli have been severely damaged.

Search and rescue work is being conducted by the French NGO Pompiers sans Frontières, as well as Swiss humanitarian personnel. A Singaporean Disaster, Assistance and Rescue Team (DART) was also expected to arrive in Nias today.

Simeulue Island: The joint Government and Inter-Agency Mission indicated that an estimated 12,000 homes have been destroyed. There is some structural damage to cement buildings, while the majority of wooden structures suffered little damage. The hospital in Sinabang was affected but is operational with a number of tents erected as a temporary measure.

WHO and the Provincial Health Authorities have also conducted a joint health assessment.

At around 17:00hrs today local time a fire in the urban center of Sinabang on Simeulue Island was reported. Unconfirmed reports note that 150 houses and building were burned. Currently the fire is reported to be out. The UN has offered assistance to the Head of District (Bupati) and the situation and related needs are being assessed by local authorities and humanitarian partners on the ground. No immediate needs have thus far been reported. Many of the communications systems are currently down due to the fire.

West Coast: The Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) have reported that stretches of the road between Meulaboh and Medan, and Meulaboh and Banda Aceh have been damaged. TNI repair teams are being sent out.

The main area of concern is now Singkil District, which includes part of the coastline on Sumatra and islands including Pulau Banyak. As it is not possible to land on Pulau Banyak an aerial assessment using low-flying aircraft was made. This assessment has indicated little damage but unconfirmed reports suggest a more serious situation. An initial assessment of the situation in Singkil District is being conducted by the authorities and an OCHA led inter-agency assessment to Singkil via road will be conducted. Coordination meetings for the situation on the West Coast are being held in Meulaboh.

REQUIREMENTS

Nias Island:

1. Search and Rescue capacity

2. Water purification equipment e.g. water treatment plant and hygiene kits

3. Medical support (including medical tents, crash kits and supplies)

4. Food supplies

5. Non-food items including 1,500 family tents ands plastic sheeting

Airport runway repairs and air traffic control have also been listed under short-term emergency needs.

Simeulue Island:

It is generally felt that medical needs are being met.

1. Water purification equipment and water and sanitation supplies

2. Food

3. A tented hospital for 50 people, medicines, 4 medical doctors, hospital supplies and equipment and 2 tonnes of dried biscuits, for the hospital

4. 200 tents and non-food items

5. Communications and GPS equipment.

A water maintenance team to repair and develop a water treatment distribution system, as well as a power maintenance team is needed.

COORDINATION and OPERATIONS

From the perspective of the United Nations, Banda Aceh is the coordination hub for the relief operation, which is being led by the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator.

Sibolga, on the mainland, is now the main logistics hub for receipt and onward transmission of relief cargo as no heavy aircraft can land on Nias. UNJLC has placed staff in Sibolga and WFP will deploy a logistical coordinator to Nias to receive goods. Refueling depots are also available in Sibolga. The Government of Indonesia has offered free fuel for air operations.

Joint Government/UN Press Conferences were held in Banda Aceh on 29 and 30 March 2005 to inform the media of the results of the emergency assessment missions.

On Nias Island the joint Government/Inter-Agency Mission has set up a coordination cell with the Bupati and local authorities.

Humanitarian operations on Simeulue are being coordinated with the local authorities. The Indonesian Red Cross and the 8 INGOs already present on the island (Médecins Sans Frontières, Médecins du Monde, CARDI, CARE Australia, Concern, Cordaid, SurfAid and Save the Children Fund) are believed to be the best placed to handle the relief effort given their strong capacities and resources.

The major challenge is not capacity or resources but the difficulties in transporting resources to affected areas.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

Government officials from Jakarta have been dispatched to both Nias and Simeulue to assess the requirement for international assistance.

Nias: The TNI have dispatched about 1,000 soldiers and are providing engineering support and bulldozers. They have also begun restoring land communication on the island, clearing roads and fixing the airport.

The authorities are bringing in a large electrical system and it is expected that full power will return to the capital by tonight.

The Ministry of Health is sending 50 doctors from Meulaboh to deal with trauma.

Simeulue: The TNI is dispatching one navy ship with medical supplies and a small team of engineers, communication specialists and medical specialists. The TNI will also send one infantry unit from Bireuen to Simeulue by ship.

COUNTRY-LEVEL INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

Nias Island

Medical and Water and Sanitation

  • WHO has 5 medical doctors along with a logistician and a water and sanitation expert in place. WHO has sent 580kg of medical supplies and the UN and International Non-governmental Organisations (INGOs) are sending additional medical teams and 4.5 tonnes of medicines.

  • UNHAS helicopters are facilitating medical evacuations to Meulaboh.

  • UNICEF is planning to establish two-child care centres to help with psychological trauma. Surveillance of epidemic prone diseases will also be initiated.

  • UNICEF will also supply three water treatment plants (capacity for 20,000 people each), emergency health kits, tents, tarpaulins, plastic sheets, cooking utensils and water containers for 10,000 people.

Food

  • WFP is sending Landing Craft carrying 300 tons of food commodities and has pre-positioned Humanitarian Daily Rations (HDR), 1 rub hall, and 3 generators for dispatch.

Non Food items (NFIs) and general

  • UNFPA, UNICEF and IOM and the INGOs CRS, CARE, SCF, are sending a vessel with NFIs, health kits, water and sanitation materials, family kits, cooking kits, body bags, tents, and food.

  • UNHCR is dispatching 500 tents from stocks held in Medan. Mercy Malaysia, the PMI (Indonesian Red Cross) and UNDP are also planning to dispatch tents.

  • IOM is sending trucks loaded with water, milk, other food items and medical supplies to Sibolga, where two ships, a local Indonesian ferry and a vessel commissioned by MSF Belgium, will transport the assistance to Gunung Sitori.

Logistics

  • WFP has sent ICT technicians to set up a telecommunication system to facilitate coordination of relief operations.

  • UNJLC/UNHAS and the INGO Samaritan's Purse are assessing aviation logistics.

Simeulue Island

Medical

  • MSF is currently providing medical care and IMC will begin operations tomorrow.

  • SCF has provided medical supplies and generators to the hospital.

Food

  • One-week food rations are being provided by CARE and the authorities to 8 districts.

Non Food items (NFIs) and general

  • CARE is sending family tents, medical kits, and hygiene kits.

  • SCF distributed plastic sheeting to some 175 families and along with other INGOs is sending household kits, classroom tents, medical kits, baby food, and NFIs by boat.

Logistics

  • OCHA and UNJLC have procured communications equipment and WFP is liaising with the TNI about transportation of communications equipment.

  • Many of the communications systems are currently down due to the recent fire.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

The Government of Japan will provide assistance in kind equivalent to a total 15 million yen (approx USD150,000) in tents, blankets, electricity generators, and sleeping mats and will also dispatch an 11-member Japan Disaster Relief Medical Team. The Medical Team will leave Japan on 30 March 2005.

For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA-Geneva Desk Officers, as indicated below, of bilateral relief missions/pledges/contributions and their corresponding value by item.

Together with further information on other ongoing emergencies, this situation report is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int.

Aid agencies are encouraged to use the Virtual On-Site Operations Coordination Centre (OSOCC) at http://www.reliefweb.int to share information on assistance and coordinate activities.

MAP - Indonesia: Earthquake - Situation map

Telephone: +41-22-917 1234
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23/06 28
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only:Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
Ms. Marie Spaak/Ms. Rebecca Richards
Direct Tel. 41-22-917 1728/3183

Press contact:
(GVA): Ms. Elisabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
(N.Y.): Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. +1-917 367 51 26
(N.Y.): Mr. Brian Grogan, direct Tel. +1-212-963 11 43

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