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Indonesia

Indonesia: Earthquakes West Sumatra Province OCHA Situation Report No. 2

Ref: OCHA - 2007/0027

OCHA Field Situation Report 2
Indonesia - Earthquakes
West Sumatera Province
07 March 2007

This report is developed by HC/RC Office in Indonesia based on information provided by the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG), National Coordinating Board for the Management of Disaster (BAKORNAS PB), Provincial Coordinating Unit for the Management of Disaster (SATKORLAK PB) West Sumatera, District Coordinating Unit for Management of Disaster (SATLAK PB) Solok, Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) and media reports.

I. SITUATION

1. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing in the affected areas following the Richter Scale 6.3 (USGS) earthquake that hit Indonesia's West Sumatra province on 6 March. The power supply, telecommunication network and roads in some affected areas remain disrupted. Many people have fled their homes, fearing aftershocks. The Coordinating Minister of People's Welfare, the Minister of Social Affairs and the Minister of Health convened a meeting with local authorities after visiting the affected areas. The latest data presented at the meeting indicates that 73 people have died and 194 people were injured. The Cabinet Secretary said the dead toll has been revised down to 52 persons.

2. Free medical service will be provided to the affected communities. Twenty schools have been damaged, and 3,617 houses have been damaged. The affected areas are Solok District, Solok City, Tanah Datar District, Padang Pariaman District, Agam District, Limapuluh Kota District, Payakumbuh City, Padang Panjang City, Bukit Tinggi City, and Padang City.

3. BAKORNAS PB held a coordination meeting today with UN agencies and relevant ministries to discuss the coordination mechanism for international assistance. At this stage, the Government of Indonesia (GoI) is mobilizing its resources at the local and national level, and welcomes but is not calling for international assistance. Any international assistance is to be reported to BAKORNAS PB. (The contact people for BAKORNAS PB are Mr. Fatchul Hadi, Head of Planning and Cooperation Bureau, at +62 816 163 4360, and Mr. Untung, Director for Logistics and Equipment, at +62 812 830 6112.)

4. The Ministry of Health (MoH) reports that injured people are being treated in local hospitals, including Dr. M. Jamil Padang, Payakumbuh, Yarsi and A. Mochtar Bukittinggi, Batusangkar, Solok, Tanah Datar, and Padang Panjang. As A. Mochtar Hospital in Bukit Tinggi has been damaged, medical services are being given outside the building. The total number of inpatients is 148 and outpatients total 125. Provincial and district health offices are monitoring the health situation.

5. The power supply in Solok District has been cut off and communities are remaining outside their homes for fear of aftershocks. However, the air force airport 'Tabing' and the commercial airport 'Minangkabau' are in good condition. Medium-size aircrafts, such as Boeing 737 and Hercules C-130, are able to land in these two airports. BMG does not recommend sea transportation due to current weather conditions.

6. Local media have reported that the communities had received trainings from the government on disaster preparedness, which has helped them to react to this earthquake. The UN Technical Working Group and BAKORNAS PB had conducted contingency planning exercises in the area in 2006, which has proven a resource at the present time.

II. NATIONAL RESPONSES

1. The Ministry of Health has dispatched a rapid assessment team and has sent 100 foldaway beds, 2 platoon tents, 2 emergency kits and 10 tonnes of supplementary food for infants. The West Sumatra Provincial Health Office has deployed 3 medical teams: 1 team from M. Jamil Hospital in Padang to Solok City and District, 1 team from Pariaman Hospital to Tanah Datar District, and 1 team from Achmad Muchtar Hospital in Bukit Tinggi to Padang Panjang City.

2. PMI has made emergency relief items available in its warehouse in Padang for immediate distribution. The emergency relief items include 1,000 family kits, 2,000 blankets, and 2,000 tarpaulins. From its warehouse in Jakarta, PMI has sent medicine for 2,000 people and 17,700 water purification tablets. PMI is joining an assessment mission conducted together by UN agencies, the Netherlands Red Cross and French Red Cross. Volunteers in the neighboring provinces of Riau, Aceh and North Sumatra have been notified and are on stand-by for immediate deployment if and when required.

3. PMI's disaster response team, SATGANA, is in the field to conduct a rapid assessment and has provided relief items, including 20 tarpaulins, 100 blankets, 2 set of field kitchen, 2 platoon tents, 1 generator, and 30 body bags. Two ambulances have also been dispatched.

4. Various private sector outlets in West Sumatra are providing assistance, including food, non-food items, school supplies, tents, medicine and medical workers.

III. INTERNATIONAL RESPONSES

1. The Dutch government has pledged EUR 1,500,000 (USD 2 million) in aid for victims of the earthquake. The development minister, Bert Koenders said the aid would include equipment, medicine, medical care and logistical support distributed via the Red Cross and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

2. USAID has provided USD 50,000 for the emergency relief effort. Several foreign donor organizations have indicated their intention to provide assistance, including CIDA, ECHO and the government of Spain.

3. Medicines du Monde (MdM) has sent a team to the heavy hit area of Solok, including 2 doctors, 3 nurses, and 2 logisticians, as well as 2 tonnes of medical kits. Action Contre La Faim (ACF) has also sent 2 watsan specialists, 2 logisticians, 1 nutritionist, as well as 1.5 tonnes of watsan equipments. MSF Belgium is sending one nurse, and as well as medical supplies, food and non-food items. Tzu Chi has provided food and non-food items to Solok City, Solok District and Tanah Datar District.

4. UNICEF will deliver 30 school tents, 20 water bladders, 500 hygiene kits, 50 cooking sets, 4 boxes of water purification tablets, 500 jerry can, 50 bottles of Air Rahmat (water purification liquid) from its warehouse in Medan to Solok District.

5. WHO, in close cooperation with MoH, is monitoring the health situation. Emergency trauma kits are on stand-by for immediate shipment. Further health professional are also on stand-by and ready for deployment if required.

6. Based on information received from the field, the Humanitarian Coordinator has requested a stand down of the UNDAC team, which was put on standby. OCHA has also contacted the Indonesian Missions in New York and Geneva to offer assistance, and stands ready to make an emergency cash grant available to the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Jakarta.

This situation report and maps of the affected areas are available on OCHA's Reliefweb: http://www.reliefweb.int

MAP: Indonesia: Earthquake in Sumatra (as of 6 Mar 2007) - Situation map

For detailed information please contact:

UN RC/HC Office Jakarta
Fax: +62 21 319 00 003
Mr. Abdul Haq Amiri, Tel. + 62 21 314 1308, Mob. + 62 812 108 7277
Laksmita Noviera, Tel. +62 21 314 1308, Mob. +62 811 84 08 20

Desk Officers:
(NY) Ms. Kirsten Gelsdorf, Tel. +1 917 367 2174, Mob. +1 617 470 9014
(GVA) Mr. Erik Kastlander, Tel. +41-22-917 1587

Press contact:
(NY) Ms. Stephanie Bunker, Tel. +1-917 367 5126
(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, Tel. +41-22-917 2653

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