OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Indonesia - Floods
27 November 2002


This report is based on information provided by the OCHA office in
Indonesia, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, and media reports.

Situation

1.  Incessant rain between 19 and 24 November 2002 has caused flooding in
the provinces of Nanggroe Aceh Darusallam (NAD) and North Sumatra. In NAD,
the flooding affected the districts of South Aceh, Southwest Aceh, Nagan
Raya and Aceh Singkil and in North Sumatra the districts of Central
Tapanuli and Nias Islands. In some areas of North Sumatra, water levels
are reported to have risen to four metres.

2. The rain has reportedly stopped and water levels are subsiding.


Aceh

3.  On 19 November, heavy rains caused the Sarullah River in South Aceh to
overflow, inundating 53 homes in Tapaktuan, Samadha and Sudoh
Sub-districts.  An unspecified number of households were evacuated and
sheltered in public facilities.

4.  The Satkorlak PBP (Executing Unit for Disaster and IDP Management) of
NAD indicated that floods in Nagan Raya District inundated 37 villages in
Darul Makmur Sub-district, which was the worst hit area, with water levels
reaching 2 metres. As reported by the Regent of Nagan Raya, 26,808 people
had to leave their houses in Darul Makmur. They were sheltered in various
public halls such as schools and mosques in the highlands of Alue Bili
village, but have since returned home. Kuala Sub-district and Seunagan
Sub-district were also hit by the floods, affecting 10 villages, however
the number of displaced has not yet been recorded.  No casualties were
reported, but two people are reported missing.

5.  By Friday 22 November, the floods had spread to Southwest Aceh,
causing landslides and killing 12 people in Kreung Batee Sub-district.
Many others went missing.  A total of 287 houses were damaged in four
sub-districts in Southwest Aceh.  According to the Satkorlak PBP of NAD,
some 56,000 people had fled their homes and some were reported as being
still displaced. The district government has provided the displaced food
and shelter, and the provincial government has sent additional assistance.

6.  In Aceh Singkil District, the sub-districts of Singkil, Gunung Meriah,
Simpang Kanan, Sultan Daulat, Rundeng and Kuta Baharu were flooded. The
media reported that hundreds of families were displaced to the Cinendang
riverbanks.  Communication with Aceh Singkil has been difficult;  the
provincial government has only managed to communicate with the area once.

7.  The flooding and the collapse of three bridges in Lami, Nagan Raya, Ie
Mirah, Southwest Aceh, and Krueng Sarulah, South Aceh temporarily cut
transportation lines between the flooded districts and between major
towns, such as Tapaktuan in South Aceh and Medan in North Sumatra.


North Sumatra

8.  Floods occurred in the sub-districts of Kolang, Sorkam, West Sorkam,
Andam Dewi and Barus, in Central Tapanuli District, due to the overflow of
a local dam and the Sibundong River in the evening of 20 November. One
person was killed. Six villages were flooded by water 3-4 metres high, and
in Sorkam Sub-district, water levels reached 1-2 metres.  In Kolang
Sub-district, which is the most affected area, some 2,500 people have been
evacuated.

9.  In the Nias Islands, the Nou River overflowed, affecting the community
in Gunung Sitolu. A total of 344 families, or 1,966 people were displaced
in Nias Islands according to the Satkorlak PBP of North Sumatra.


National and International Response

Aceh

10.  The Vice-Governor announced that the Provincial Government had Rp 380
million (about USD 42,700) available to provide assistance, Rp 120 million
(USD 13,485)  of which would be allocated to Aceh Singkil District. The
provincial government has released 5MT of rice, 200 boxes of instant
noodles and other foodstuffs for the Satlak PBP (Operational Unit for
Disaster and IDP Management) of Southwest Aceh District, while the
district authorities have provided a quantity of rice sufficient for a
week.

11.  The affected district governments have established emergency posts
(POSKO) to provide assistance for the displaced.

12.  One health surveillance team has been sent to the affected areas to
assess the epidemiological situation and has taken along medical supplies.
This assessment will determine if further medical assistance is required.

13.  At a Coordination meeting of relevant government departments on 25
November, which was also attended by the international NGO CARDI and OCHA,
the Vice-Governor indicated that emergency relief assistance would be
needed, in particular rice, blankets and kitchen utensils, but he still
lacked information on the quantities required.

14.  The Indonesian Red Cross (Palang Merah Indonesia ?PMI) in Banda Aceh
dispatched a team on 27 November to South Aceh and Southwest Aceh,
bringing with them 1,500 family kits.

15.  The Department of Public Works immediately repaired the Lami and Ie
Mirah bridges, enabling road communication to return to normal. The Krueng
Sarulah bridge that links South Aceh to Medan, North Sumatra, has been
reduced to one lane. The Indonesian Military (TNI) are making an emergency
bridge alongside it until the main bridge can be repaired.


North Sumatra

16.  On 25 November, the provincial government of North Sumatra through
the Satkorlak PBP in Medan provided 6 MT of rice for the flood victims of
Central Tapanuli and 3MT of rice to Nias Islands. The district government
of Central Tapanuli has also contributed 7 MT of rice for the flood
victims through the Satlak PBP. Two health teams were also dispatched to
the two locations for a health assessment. The teams are scheduled to
return on 27 November.

17.  So far OCHA has not received any request for international
assistance. No external assistance has been provided so far.

18.  OCHA is in close contact with the Indonesian authorities and will
revert with further information, as it becomes available.

19.  This situation report, is also available, together with further
information on ongoing emergencies, on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int



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Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  Mr. Rudolf Muller / Ms. Marie Spaak
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 3131 / 17 28

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
  (NYC)  Brian Grogan direct Tel. +1-212-963-1143


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