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Indonesia

Indonesia: Earthquake OCHA Situation Report No. 2

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2005/0060

OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Indonesia Earthquake
29 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 11.09 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). There are no reports of tsunami waves as a result of the latest earthquakes.

Initial reports indicate that Nias Island, Simeulue Island and the Banyak islands, located off the southwest coast of Sumatra, are the areas worst affected by the latest earthquakes. Nias Island, south of Simeulue, has an estimated population of 444,000, of which some 1,780 people are registered as internally displaced. Simeulue Island has an estimated population of 77,751 people, of which 18,000 people are internally displaced. The Banyak islands, located between Nias and Simeulue, have an estimated population of 5,000 people.

CURRENT SITUATION AND RESPONSE

Nias: While the exact number of casualties has not been confirmed, there are approximately 200 dead and over 300 injured, many of them severely. Medical evacuations of the most serious cases are currently being carried out to Medan, Meulaboh and Sibolga. WHO is sending doctors from Meulaboh to Nias to deal with trauma cases.

There is a need for emergency food rations, water and shelter. OCHA Medan has dispatched 500 tents from UNHCR at the request of the inter-agency advance assessment team. The tents are to arrive on a Singapore Chinook on 29 March. UNICEF is sending 2 water treatment plants to Nias.

Logistics hubs will be formed in Sibolga and Medan. All available helicopters and small aircraft have been drafted into Medan to assist with this operation. UNHAS is sending staff to Nias to respond to the increased need for air traffic control.

The Government dispatched a team from Jakarta to assess the situation and no request for international assistance has been made pending the outcome of that mission. More assessments are being planned for 30 March throughout the area, including Pulau Banyak and Aceh Singkil.

Simeulue: The OCHA/WFP/Government (Dinas Sosial) team completed their rapid assessment of the situation and found that most buildings constructed out of timber with light corrugated steel roves suffered very little damage, whereas many of the concrete buildings were damaged or collapsed (including the Bupati/Mayor's office). The population is generally fearful of a tsunami, probably because the water level appears to have dropped. Many have moved out of their damaged homes into tents or makeshift shelters.

Initial estimates of casualties report 3 dead and 47 injured in Sinabang Hospital. Although the hospital suffered structural damage, it is still in operation and tents have been erected as a temporary measure. All collapsed structures have been searched. Some casualties were evacuated by light aircraft to Medan. International NGOs have not reported any casualties.

The airport is operational with the normal flight timetable to/from Medan on schedule. No suitable helicopter landing site has been found for MI8s in the capital of Sinabang. The route from the airport to Sinabang is open, but parts of the road are fractured. All bridges are open, but abutments are damaged.

Communications on the island are poor. Satellite telephones and HF radios are in need. The Indonesian army (TNI) is present and in desperate need for communications equipment. A TNI reconnaissance team was deployed mid afternoon and will attempt to provide assistance.

Main needs include: tented hospital for 50 people; 2 tons dried biscuits for the hospital; general doctors; hospital equipment; oxygen and basic medicines, glucose drips; 200 tents for homeless families; communications and GPS equipment. In this initial phase, CARE, CRS and SC have indicated they would be able to assist with a number of these requirements.

Banyak islands: A rapid aerial assessment of Banyak and Singkil islands, which were nearest to the epicentre of the 8.7 earthquake, revealed that life appeared to be normal with little to no destruction and no visible humanitarian needs. No helicopter landing site exists on the island.

COORDINATION

A meeting of Heads of Sectoral Working Groups was organized to streamline the relief efforts and incoming offers for assistance as initial contacts with NGOs working in the affected area were established and first reports of the situation in Nias were received. Within hours, the HIC created an epicentre map of the earthquake, which was widely distributed.

Following the reports of the assessment missions, immediate action was taken by the various agencies through the OCHA office in Banda Aceh. OCHA convened a UNCT meeting and an IASC meeting in Banda Aceh to share information and decide on the next steps.

OCHA Meulaboh coordinated assistance for mainland West Aceh with information indicating minimal impact. OCHA Medan was in frequent consultation with Government counterparts, NGOs, and the military from Singapore and Malaysia to ascertain needs and coordinate relief efforts.

Meetings were also held with donors (DFID, Japan, France, Germany, and USAID).

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator (UN HC) a.i. and OCHA convened a meeting with NGOs and donors in Jakarta at 15:00hrs at which the United Nations and a representative of BAKORNAS presented the latest information. It was agreed that another briefing would be convened as soon as further information becomes available.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

Singapore will be sending a humanitarian assistance team to Nias Island comprising 3 Chinook helicopters, an SAF medical team and a Disaster, Assistance and Rescue Team (DART). The helicopters will support transportation needs and conduct medical evacuations in the disaster area. Representatives from the Singapore Red Cross and Mercy Relief will join the medical and DART teams. In addition, a C-130 transport plane will ferry additional personnel and relief supplies to Indonesia tomorrow morning.

OCHA Jakarta and BAKORNAS were in regular communication throughout the day on the issue of additional international assistance. The Government will determine the need for such assistance once the results of the assessment teams are available. The assessment teams will report back to the Vice-President and BAKORNAS this evening. It is likely that the Government will convene a briefing tomorrow.

OCHA Geneva has been informed that 20 Search and Rescue (SAR) teams are on standby in the region ready to be deployed pending a request from the Government of Indonesia for SAR assistance. OCHA has placed a four-person UNDAC team on standby, pending a request from the Government.

Singapore has placed 40 rescuers on standby and Malaysia has 20 rescuers on standby.

NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

In the Maldives the alert system worked reasonably well. There was no panic in the streets although most inhabitants felt the tremor. The Government broadcast a message to the population inviting residents on islands to move away from the beaches and leave the buildings. The UN Resident Coordinator (UN RC) issued a similar message to all UN staff. Within the hour, national authorities and international partners in Male' gathered at the National Disaster Centre, and information was exchanged with the Minister of Defence. The Minister was further informed of the UN plan for disaster preparedness and response, and a specific request was made for the use of V-Sat equipment (as most UN staff confirmed that mobile phone lines were saturated during the first 3-4 hours following the announcement in the media).

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: Location and affected areas

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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