OCHA Situation Report No. 3 Indonesia - Floods 4 December 2000
The Government of Indonesia welcomes international assistance Situation and Damage 1. The flood water has receded in the affected provinces of West Sumatra, North Sumatra and Aceh after the floods triggered by the seasonal torrential rains late last month caused damage to human and material resources. Landslides in West Sumatra have also reportedly killed or left missing some 100 people and damaged houses, crops and public facilities though the damage observed by the Government assessment team was not as severe as initially expected. Damage and losses to the infrastructure and roads caused by the floods and landslides in West Sumatra and in Aceh are estimated at over IDR 300 billion (USD 34 million) and at IDR 36 billion (USD 4 million) respectively. 2. The Indonesian Government has conducted assessments in the affected provinces from 29 November to 1 December, accompanied by UNDP and OCHA field staff members. A UN representative who accompanied the Government assessment team to West Sumatra reports that, in Malalo which was badly hit by the landslides and floods, 7 people have been killed with 14 missing and some of the housing areas and farming land and crops have been damaged. As of 30 November, electricity in some parts of the district has not yet been restored and there were still some 200 people displaced in nearby mosques and schools, though the weather conditions were improving and some evacuated people were returning to their homes. Medical teams are available for the residents and all health needs are at present being met. As many of the public buildings and some houses were destroyed, building materials such as nails and wooden planks are needed. It is also reported that the Pariaman area, where 6 people have been killed with over 6,000 people displaced, is still difficult to reach and assistance is arriving slowly. There is still a need for food and medical assistance in the district. In Pesisir Selatan, Solok, Kota Padang and Kurao which the assessment team visited, little remaining damage caused by the landslides and flooding was observed though some 50 people were reportedly killed by the disaster. 3. According to a report provided by another UN representative who joined the Government mission to North Sumatra and Aceh, the disaster left 20 people dead in both provinces. In North Sumatra, houses and the road network were damaged. In Aceh, the floods have receded since 25 November and electricity and telephone lines have been restored. An official report available to date indicates that the floods in Aceh damaged 2,200 houses and affected over 388,000 people. They also caused damage to rice fields and infrastructure. Medicine and water purification supplies have been delivered by the local government, but there remains a need for assistance with foodstuffs. Needs for relief assistance 4. The local authorities mobilized relief assistance immediately after the occurrence of the disaster in the form of medicine, shelter, clean water, sanitation, food and have been able to manage to meet most humanitarian needs. However, there still remain needs for food, clothes, shelter/tents and building materials for urgent repairs. It is also obvious that there will be a need for rehabilitation of infrastructure, such as roads, bridges and water and sanitation, after the emergency phase is over. National and International Response 5. BAKORNAS PB has provided each of the flood-affected provinces of West Sumatra, North Sumatra and Aceh with 100 MT of food supplies, and has also made 500 kg of medicine and 14 rubber dinghies available. The Ministry of Resettlement and Regional Infrastructure and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare have also provided relief assistance to supplement the provincial governments' relief activities. 6. The Secretary of BAKORNAS PB confirmed at the UNDMT meeting on 27 November that the Government of Indonesia would accept international assistance. 7. The United States agency, USAID, is providing USD 25,000 for the immediate needs of victims of the recent flooding and landslides in Sumatra. 8. The Indonesian Red Cross Society (PMI) is working with IFRC in West Sumatra and with ICRC in Aceh. ICRC has its field office in this province. On 30 November an IFRC emergency appeal was launched, seeking CHF 190,647 (approximately USD 105,900) to assist 2,000 families for 3 months. It is reported in the appeal that in West and North Sumatra, the immediate needs are for shelter, food, household items and lighting and that the overall situation for potable water is still being assessed. IFRC has released CHF 67,500 (USD 37,500) for the initial procurement of relief materials for the West Sumatra operation. A joint IFRC, ICRC and PMI team has been conducting assessments in most of the affected areas. Oxfam and MSF have also conducted an assessment in Aceh. 9. The UNDMT in Jakarta met on 28 November to review the situation. It was reported that UNICEF could mobilize ORS to be sent where required. UNFPA would be able to provide Reproductive Health Care emergency kits if necessary. In addition, WFP reported that they could provide High Energy Biscuits from their stocks in West Timor provided that transportation costs are covered by another entity. 10. On 1 December FAO issued a special report on the concern mounting regarding food supplies in parts of Indonesia following these floods. The report indicates that a number of the worst affected areas are reported to be experiencing serious food shortages as access remains extremely difficult and thousands of hectares of dry season rice, which was near harvest, were also damaged. It is also reported that concern for food security remains in parts of the county affected by civil unrest, which includes Aceh which was also seriously affected by the recent floods. 11. Based on the recommendations following the government assessments in the affected areas, OCHA has made available an emergency cash grant of USD 20,000. OCHA has also decided to allocate a grant of USD 20,000 from a contribution for relief assistance held in reserve by OCHA from the Government of Denmark to assist the most vulnerable population. 12. OCHA is in close contact with the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Jakarta and will revert with further information when it becomes available. 13. 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: (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 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -