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Indonesia

Indonesia: Earthquake OCHA Situation Report No. 6

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2005/0075

OCHA Situation Report No. 6*
Indonesian Earthquake
Occurred on 28 March 2005

SITUATION

The 28 March earthquake caused extensive damage to the infrastructure on Nias Island, rendering the main ring road and numerous secondary roads impassable to all traffic, except motorcycles. However, in the past week road conditions in Nias have improved and relief aid deliveries are now primarily undertaken by road, although air deliveries continue for the northwest part of the island where access is still limited. Approximately 1790 MT of relief goods have been distributed by 55 IOM trucks throughout Nias since 28 March.

As of 21 April, the total reported dead resulting from the 28 March earthquake stands at 905 people: 845 people in North Sumatra Province and 60 people in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Province (NAD). The number of IDPs stands at an estimated 106,800 people: approximately 60,500 people in North Sumatra Province and 46,300 people in NAD.

A UNDP team is preparing to travel to Nias and Simeulue to assess possible contributions by the agency to the recovery effort, including an assessment of the port and the extent of rehabilitation needed. UNDP was already planning to support the construction of 1,500 homes in Simeulue that were damaged prior to the 28 March quake.

SECTORAL UPDATE

Food and Nutrition

In Nias, WFP hosts food coordination meetings twice a week to discuss ongoing and planned distributions, and to meet with NGO partners. Blanket distributions have been adjusted to benefit the approximately 117,000 beneficiaries directly affected by the earthquake (house and/or livelihood destroyed) and who live in the poorest communities.

Following assessment visits to Singkil and Sibolga/Pandang (Sibolga town and Sibuluan camps), a one time, two-week ration will be provided to approximately 20,000 IDPs.

The Emergency Needs Assessment (ENA) and CARE conducted a joint assessment on Simeulue Island, where WFP is also assessing the need for a school-feeding programme. The ENA will complete the survey in early May on the longer-term impact of the earthquake and its implications on food aid on the island.

Health

WHO in Nias reports an outbreak of acute diarrhoea in Alasa Sub-District (Desa Tugala Oyo) affecting approximately 80 families. One man has died and nearly 50 people are suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting. Several people are in critical condition. Tests confirm there is no cholera outbreak at present, nevertheless, WHO is sending a cholera kit to Nias in case of future outbreaks.

An Indonesian Army medical unit is monitoring cases of diarrhoea and skin disease in isolated areas of southwest Simeulue.

A measles vaccination campaign began on 16 April in collaboration with the Provincial Health Office to benefit children 3 months to 15 years old primarily in IDP camps. As of 19 April, 767 people had been immunised in 13 IDPs sites in Gunung-Sitoli Sub-District.

On 20 April, WHO sent 5,000 blister packs of malaria medicines to the Nias District Health Office. SurfAid will distribute bed nets and hold malaria prevention activities in Nias Barat and Teluk Dalam sub-districts. Several sites in Nias have been fogged as a preventive step against mosquitoes and malaria.

As of 18 April, 219 national and 122 foreign medical staff members have been deployed to Nias. However, health remains a concern in the southern part of the island where a stronger NGO medical presence is required to meet current needs.

UNFPA is providing 25 midwifery kits to the Provincial Health Office in Nias and is assessing the need for similar kits in Simeulue.

Water and Sanitation

OXFAM reports that water provision in most areas of Nias is now above the minimum SPHERE standards, with the exception of Teluk Dalam. OXFAM is now distributing 333,000 litres of water daily in Gunung Sitoli to 22,200 people at 33 water points around the city.

Shelter

UNHCR has been requested by the Governor of North Sumatra Province and the Bupati (Head of District) on Nias Island to provide shelter and non-food-item assistance. UNHCR has placed an order for 2,000 lightweight tents along with 5,000 plastic sheets, 5,000 jerry cans, 3,500 kitchen sets and 3 Rubhalls (warehouse tents) from its emergency stockpiles to be delivered to Medan, from where they will be immediately distributed to Nias.

A UNHCR assessment along the west coast and in the town of Sirombu, Nias Island found that the local population has moved inland and is no longer willing to live by the sea. Other UN agencies and NGOs conducting assessment in other parts of Nias and Simeulue Island have found similar situations of IDPs living in spontaneous settlements in the hills. The government plans to relocate communities reluctant to move back to the coast. For example, in Sirombu plans have been made to move the town approximately 2-3 km inland, which would still allow fishermen to commute to the coast by bicycle.

Livelihoods

IOM is implementing a market revitalization programme in Nias and Simeulue that would facilitate the construction of approximately 1,000 market stalls. IOM is identifying people who lost their homes and livelihoods and providing them with carpentry skills to participate in a cash-for-work programme.

Logistical Bottlenecks

UNHAS continues its operations in Nias and Simeulue with the Twin Otters flying scheduled flights to Nias and Simeulue 3 times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday for Nias, and Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for Simeulue). Due to increasing demands for travel on the route between Meulaboh to Calang, UNHAS has revised its schedule which now allows travel on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

For the latest comprehensive report regarding logistics please see UNJLC's latest situation report at www.unjlc.org

USEFUL WEBSITES

www.bakornaspbp.go.id (National Coordination Board for Natural Disaster Management)
www.acehrecovery.bakornaspbp.go.id.
www.depsos.go.id (Department of Social Affairs)
www.depkes.go.id (Department of Health)
www.lin.go.id (National Information Board-Ministry of Information and Communication)
www.info-ri.com (Information-Republic Indonesia)

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

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. Hannah Entwisle/Mr. Michael Meier
Direct Tel. 41-22-917 1155/1159

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

* A number of Situation Reports on the Indonesian Earthquake of 28 March were issued directly by the OCHA Office in Indonesia, and are available on Reliefweb.

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