OCHA Situation Report No. 4 Indonesia - Floods 24 May 2000
1. Management of the initial emergency response to the floods which have engulfed some estimated 100 square kms of broad and flat delta plain along the Benanain River in southern Belu, West Timor, seems generally to be under control thanks to close cooperation and coordination between the national and local governments in Indonesia, NGOs and the UN system in West Timor and East Timor. The key operational objective at this point is transporting relief to Malaka Barat, which is one of the worst affected areas and remains effectively cut off, except by helicopter, due to destruction of outlying network of roads and bridges. The Indonesian Government, NGOs and the UN have agreed to a short-term strategy of putting a month's supply of food (240 tons of rice) at the disposal of 20,000 most affected people; 65 tons from WFP, 55 tons from CRS and the remaining 120 tons from the Government. 2. The following is an updated summary provided by the UNHCR/OCHA to date. Situation: - The flood situation in the two worst affected sub-districts of Malaka Tengah and Malaka Barat continues to be difficult. Much of the area is still under water and the rest is covered in mud, including parts of Betun. The badly damaged infrastructure (roads, bridges, water and sanitation) will take a long time to rebuild, and will certainly require the continued support of many international NGOs. The population displaced by the floods is living in poor conditions, worsened by the continuing wet weather. They are also placing a considerable strain on the local population and the environment, something the authorities are under pressure to address. MSF warns that if these resettlement sites were left to develop naturally, the deforestation would further increase the risk of future flash floods. - Extreme weather conditions are expected across the area on 24 May; a possible hindrance to distribution efforts. The ground is already completely saturated, so any further rain will result in increased flooding. Casualties: - 124 confirmed dead. As the Malaka Barat sub-district is more extensively accessed, this number is likely to climb further. 37 persons are reported missing and are now being traced by ICRC, CFSI and through the Government channels. - 50% of the casualties are believed to be East Timorese refugees. Affected population: - 50,000 people have been reportedly affected in some way by the flooding, out of the area's population of 100,000. - 20,000 people are estimated to have been severely affected, and require assistance. This includes those in Malaka Barat and those in the makeshift settlements surrounding Betun town. - IOM have evacuated 5,247 people to safety by the end of 23 May. In addition there are some 900 local evacuees who have asked for an adequate building to house them, rather than building their own shelters in the forest. - 600 East Timorese refugees have expressed an interest in returning to East Timor. 100 of them are prepared to leave as soon as possible. UNHCR has decided that it will do everything it can to assist any voluntary repatriation requested, regardless of the emergency operation. Extent of destruction: - Roads throughout the affected areas have deteriorated due to the combination of poor maintenance, intensive traffic and the exceptional rainfall. - The Government estimates that 60% of houses have been either damaged or destroyed in Malaka Barat. - Initial reports indicate that the low-lying coastal area has been devastated, with between 100-200 houses having been swept away. Toppled bridges (one major and a few minor), impassable roads and bad weather have made precise assessment impossible. - With the arrival of more 4WD trucks and the helicopters provided by UNTAET and WFP, the flooded area is more accessible, though it is still impossible to cross the river Benanain as the main bridge has been washed away. - The Government estimates crop damage in South Belu at up to 10,000 hectares (100 square kms). Assemments/Needs: - Temporary drinking water sources are a priority in the new campsites. - It is expected that sanitation and public health in the makeshift sites will worsen as the latrines are totally inadequate. There is a shortage of timber for the construction of the latrines in the camps and it was suggested that the bamboo cleared from the Betun road might be used. - There is very little dry land left in Betun on which to settle the evacuees. There is an urgent need for the authorities to identify new sites to ease the burden on Betun. Response: - Since the bridge linking Malaka Tengah with Malaka Barat to cross the Benanain River collapsed and will be out of action for the foreseeable future, IOM suggested that an aluminium boat be procured to provide a free service. - The airlift to Malaka Barat continues carrying food supplies. On 25 May the WFP helicopter (sponsored by UNHCR) will return to assist distributing the rest of the international agencies' 240 MT food contribution. - IOM now has 32 trucks operating in Malaka Tengah, 10 of them deployed from relief operations in East Timor. - There are currently four INGO mobile clinics in operation in Malaka Tengah and an additional two from the Government. - There are three WHO basic kits in Betun. There is reportedly no urgent need for medicines at the moment. Coordination: - A press conference will be held by the authorities and UNHCR in Kupang on 24 May. - The authorities have reinstated the Disaster Coordination Body and asked UN agencies and NGOs to cooperate with them. - UNHCR and OCHA are jointly coordinating the UN agency and NGO response and are also keeping the authorities up to date on assessments and the resources available to support them. Inter-agency coordination is going well in Betun. 3. 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. 4. 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 1234 Fax: +41-22-917 0023 In case of emergency Tel. +41-22-917 20 10 only: 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 NYC) 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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -