OCHA Situation Report No. 1 Indonesia - Floods 24 November 2000
The following information was provided by the OCHA Office in Jakarta. Situation and Damage 1. Floods triggered by incessant torrential rains over the last few days have wrought havoc in Aceh on the northern tip of Sumatra Island, Indonesia. According to information from the UNDP Office in Banda Aceh, the town of Banda Aceh itself is currently under 1 to 1.5 metres of water and the sewage system there has ceased to function. Due to power cuts, communications with the affected areas have been severed. 2. According to a local news report, by Thursday 23 November the unrelenting downpour had drawn city life in Banda Aceh, Lhokeumawe and Sigli to a complete standstill. Approximately 35,000 families have been displaced. The report also indicates that many areas are without electricity and that road networks as well as public facilities such as hospitals and schools have been flooded. Floods are also reported in North Sumatra where, according to unconfirmed reports, four people have been killed and a number of houses flooded. National and International Response 3. BAKORNAS PB, the coordinating board for disaster management within the Government of Indonesia, is monitoring the flood situation. 4. No request for international assistance has been received by OCHA to date. 5. The UN Disaster Management Team (UN-DMT) in Jakarta had a meeting to review the situation on 24 November. Flood monitoring will continue in consultation with BAKORNAS PB, and the question of whether or not there is a need for international assistance is under consideration by BAKORNAS PB. The in-country UN system plans to hold another UN-DMT meeting on 25 November. 6. OCHA is in close contact with the Office of UN Resident Coordinator in Jakarta and will revert with further information if the situation warrants it. 7. 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 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: (GVA) Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53 (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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -