OCHA Situation Report No. 3 Indonesia - Floods 22 May 2000
Situation and Damage 1. The following is a summary of updates provided by the UNHCR/OCHA to date. The flood situation in West Timor in Indonesia has reportedly developed into the worst in a generation. 124 people, almost half of them East Timorese refugees with many women and children amongst them, have died in the floods. Several unconfirmed estimates rate the number of dead as high as 148. 10 people are reported missing. In all, some 50,000 have been affected, in particular those living in the coastal sub-districts of Malaka Tengah and Malaka Barat in southern Belu, where the total population numbers some 100,000 West Timorese as well as 16,000 East Timorese refugees, who are accommodated in 31 refugee sites. So far some 5,000 people have been evacuated to safety by IOM. Many refugees have settled in ten new spontaneously assembled sites. However, many of the sites are unsuitable for settlement and it is expected that sanitation and public health in the sites will worsen as there are not adequate latrines. 2. Both Malaka Tengah and Malaka Barat share boundaries on the 100 km Benanain River, the longest river in the province of Nusa Tenggara Timur. The watershed of the river covers as much as one- third of the area of West Timor. Heavy rains have been reported throughout the watershed, causing the river banks to burst and triggering flash floods. Floodwaters reached their peak on Tuesday, 16 May at around 21.00 hrs local time. Heavy and prolonged periods of rain continue to aggravate the relief effort. The vice-governor of Nusa Tenggara Timur province has declared a two week State of Emergency. 3. Initial reports indicate that the low-lying coastal area has been devastated; between 100-200 houses there have been swept away. The Government of Indonesia estimates that 60 % of houses were damaged or destroyed in Malaka Barat and that crop damage in southern Belu reached up to 10,000 hectares (100 square kms). However, washed away bridges, impassable roads and bad weather have precluded precise assessment. 4. The prognosis is that waterborne diseases may certainly become a problem over the coming days, especially considering how difficult it is proving to dispose rotting livestock carcasses in the absence of heavy lifting machinery. Water-testing kits are needed to assess the quality of water available to the more isolated communities. The majority of the water is expected to be polluted. WHO reports that three of the main health centres in the affected area are out of action. Three WHO basic kits are available in Betun, and there is no urgent need for further medical supplies at present. 5. The main priorities now are the maintenance and repair of the road system and the provision of clean water to flood victims. So far the emergency assistance needs are likely to be met at local level with support from the Government, donors, NGOs and the UN system in West Timor and East Timor. National and International Response 6. Improved access to the affected area has made it possible for the Indonesian Government and UNHCR to assess the situation more accurately. The Government has established POSKO (coordinating posts) in both of the worst-affected sub-districts, and has also set up village level task forces to evaluate the damage. A local disaster committee has been established in Kupang, with the vice-governor of the province taking charge of coordination. UNHCR and OCHA have maintained close contact with the authorities and are jointly coordinating the response by UN agencies and NGOs. 7. The Government of Indonesia is sending a ferry from Kupang on 23 May carrying family kits and water equipment. 8. Three helicopters which were provided by UNTAET and WFP and dispatched from Dili, East Timor on 19 May, have distributed 55 tons of assistance in 25 flights yesterday. In addition to three convoys of trucks provided by IOM, WFP and UNHCR, a further WFP convoy of four trucks and one Land Cruiser departed from Dili for Betun in southern Belu, carrying 10,000 Humanitarian Daily Rations (HDRs) and other food supplies. 9. OCHA, Geneva is in close contact with its office in Kupang, with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Jakarta and with UNTAET, and will revert with further information as it becomes available. 10. 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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -