Indonesia: Flash Flood and Landslides OCHA Situation Report No. 1

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2006/0001

OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Indonesia - Flash Flood and Landslides
Jember District - East Java Province and
Banjarnegara District - Central Java Province

This report is developed by OCHA Office in Jakarta - Indonesia and based on information provided by the National Coordinating Board for Disaster Management and IDPs/Refugees (BAKORNAS PBP), Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Health, Provincial Coordinating Board for Disaster Management and IDPs/Refugees (SATKORLAK PBP) of East Java, District Executing Unit for the Management of Disaster and IDPs/Refugees (SATLAK PBP) of Jember, SATLAK PBP of Banjarnegara, UNICEF Indonesia, WFP Indonesia, Church World Services (CWS) Indonesia, Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), and media reports.

I. SITUATION

Jember District, East Java Province

1. According to Satlak PBP Jember (4 Jan.), the flash floods and landslides that occurred on Sunday (1 Jan.) and affected 10 sub-districts in Jember District of East Java Province, has killed 77 people, of whom 71 were from Panti Sub-District, the worst affected Sub-District. As of Wednesday (4 Jan.) morning, the total number of displaced people registered is 6,761 persons temporarily sheltered in 15 evacuation sites located in Panti and Sukorambi Sub-District, as well as in Jember City, capital of Jember District. According to a rapid assessment undertaken by the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), 9,500 persons have been displaced.

2. According to PMI's rapid assessment, the recent disaster has damaged 500 houses in Panti Subdistrict, 55 in Tanggul Sub-District, 40 in Rambipuji Sub-District and 5 in Arjasa Sub-District. No report is available from the other affected sub-districts that were still inaccessible at the time of the assessment.

3. The Governor of East Java instructed the Office of Public Works to register the damaged houses, public facilities (schools, houses of prayers, health centres, etc.), as well as other infrastructure such as bridges, roads and irrigation facilities.

4. SATLAK PBP Jember reported that the distribution of emergency assistance has improved as the District Office of Public Works were able to clear the roads blocked from the mud and debris.

Banjarnegara District, Central Java Province

5. Torrential rains triggered landslides in Sijeruk Village of Banjarnegara Sub-District, Central Java Province on Thursday, 4 January 2006. The first landslide struck at 02:00 hours local time, forcing many residents to flee their homes to nearby mosque. The second and more destructive one struck at 05:00 hours local time, burying 102 houses.

6. The search, rescue and evacuation activities have been impeded by lack of required heavy equipment due to limited infrastructure to get to the affected areas as well as the danger of further landslide. According to SATLAK PBP Banjarnegara, as of Thursday (4 Jan.) afternoon, 15 dead bodies were found. The local government feared that at least 300 persons were buried and killed by the mud.

II. NATIONAL RESPONSE

Jember District, East Java Province

7. SATLAK PBP Jember and SATKORLAK PBP East Java continue the search, rescue and evacuation activity of the affected population to safer areas. They also distribute basic emergency items (food, clean water, temporary shelters, medicines), and provide health services.

8. The Ministry of Health has provided 20 MT of food supplement for babies, 150 body bags and deployed a team for needs assessment.

9. The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) National Office has deployed 2 members of its National Task Force to augment Team Satgana Jember, and also one Federation Disaster management Programme Officer to support information gathering. PMI National Office and the Federation have also sent tarpaulin, hygienic kits, sleeping mats and sarong for 1,000 households.

Banjarnegara District, Central Java Province

10. SATLAK PBP Banjarnegara continues to carry out search, rescue and evacuation activities. They have also established public kitchen for the displaced persons and provided basic emergency items such as food, water, medicines, and health centres to treat the injured victims.

11. PMI will send a team for assessment on the needs and situation to Banjarnegara on Thursday (4 Jan.) evening.

III. INTERNATIONAL RESPONSES

Jember District, East Java Province

12. UNICEF and WFP have sent staff from Surabaya sub-offices to undertake needs assessment. The United Nations Technical Working Group (UN TWG) on Disaster Management met this afternoon in Jakarta to review the information available and take necessary actions. The group advised the UNCEF and WFP team in the area to also report their findings and recommendations to the UN Technical Working Group.

13. Church World Services (CWS) Indonesia is also undertaking rapid assessment to look into the need for non-food item, emergency food aid, water and sanitation, as well as the psychosocial/emotional care of the disaster survivors.

14. OCHA Office in Jakarta will continue to be in direct contact with SATLAK PBP Jember, pertinent Central Government institutions, UNICEF and WFP assessment team in Jember, NGOs, as well as with the Indonesian Red Cross and to continue monitoring the situation.

Banjarnegara District, Central Java Province

15. The United Nations Technical Working Group (UN TWG) for disaster management is planning to deploy a joint assessment team, consisting of OCHA, UNICEF and UNDP to the affected area in Banjarnegara.

16. OCHA Office in Jakarta will continue to be in direct contact with SATLAK PBP Banjarnegara, pertinent government institutions and the Indonesian Red Cross and to continue monitoring the situation.

IV. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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

MAP: Indonesia: Flash flood and landslide - Situation map

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