OCHA Situation Report No. 2 Indonesia - Floods 19 May 2000
Situation and Damage 1. The following is a summary of updates provided by the UNHCR on 19 May. The flood situation in West Timor in Indonesia has deteriorated so far that it has become the worst in over 20 years. 61 people, 47 of them East Timorese refugees with many women and children amongst them, are confirmed dead and several unconfirmed estimates rate the number of dead as high as 148. An estimated 35,000 people have been left homeless, while fields of crops have been washed away. At this point, it appears that the most severely affected district has been the southern part of Belu, in particular the coastal sub-districts of Malaka Tengah and Malaka Barat. Some 100,000 people inhabit this area, including 16,000 East Timorese refugees. This part of West Timor is prone to flooding, but not at this time of year when the dry season should be under way. According to the WFP aerial assessment, the area is covered in mud and silt, which has engulfed roads, bridges and houses. There is little sign of water over much of the area, suggesting that it was perhaps a flash flood. The floodwaters are said to have peaked on 16 May at 21.00 hours. Though rainfall has slacked off, there are reports that another front of heavy rain is expected to cross the region soon. 2. As bridges have collapsed and roads have become impassable, efforts to assess the affected area have been hampered. The floods have inundated the rice growing area, causing the complete destruction of crops and ruining reserve stocks. It is envisaged that a very large number of people may require food assistance for some time. There is also no drinking water available in the affected area, a factor which considerably heightens the risk of cholera and other water-borne diseases. Needs 3. According to local authorities, primary needs are for medicines, food, mobile kitchens and kitchen sets and stoves, tents and plastic sheeting, fuel (diesel), water purification equipment and jerry cans, and also rubber dinghies. 4. According to UNHCR, the pressing need now is for boats, which are capable of working in strong currents. Helicopters are also necessary to distribute aid and help with the evacuation, although landing space is limited. National and International Response 5. The UN agencies and NGOs in West Timor are working together with the authorities to respond to the crisis. An assessment mission by the Indonesian Government, UN agencies and NGOs is currently underway, although hampered by access. In Kupang, UNHCR and OCHA have maintained close contact with the authorities. A daily inter-agency meeting is being held to develop and coordinate the response. Various agencies in the field are preparing to assist as necessary. 6. In the course of today three helicopters and three convoys of trucks are carrying emergency relief items from East Timor to affected areas in Malaka Tengah and Malaka Barat in Belu district, West Timor. Two helicopters from the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) in Dili, as requested by the Government of Indonesia on 17 May, along with a helicopter provided by WFP, departed for Betun in southern Belu, carrying 40 bundles of UNHCR plastic sheeting (200 units). They will assist in the location and evacuation of people stranded by the floods and in the distribution of emergency relief items. In addition, ten trucks provided by IOM departed from Dili for Betun with UNHCR relief items including 1 ton of plastic sheeting, 750 blankets, 540 kitchen sets, 4,440 jerry cans and 2,200 mosquito nets, as well as 10 Motorola radio handsets. WFP has also provided six trucks for Betun, carrying 20,000 Humanitarian Daily Rations. UNHCR is preparing three trucks containing relief items (NFI) and a fuel tanker for Atambua and Betun. These trucks will be used to assist in the evacuation and relocation of the flood victims. 7. OCHA, Geneva is in close contact with its office in Kupang as well as with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Jakarta and UNTAET, and will revert with further information as it becomes available. 8. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34 Fax: +41-22-917 00 23 In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10 Desk Officers: Ms. S. Metzner-Strack / Mr. R. Mueller / Mr. S. Matsuka Direct Tel. +41-22-917 21 44 / 31 31 / 40 34 Press contact: (in GVA) Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53 (in NY) Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32 distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -