OCHA Situation Report
Indonesia: Tsunami
Report for February 2005
28 February 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Highlights:

- According to latest figure released by the National Coordinating Board 
for the Management of Disaster and IDPs/Refugees (BAKORNAS PBP), 123,597 
bodies have been buried, 113,937 are missing and 400,901 are displaced 
in Aceh Province due to recent earthquake and tsunami. Meanwhile in 
North Sumatra Province, 130 have been buried, 24 are missing and 19,620 
are displaced.

- The Government of Indonesia (GoI) and Free Aceh Movement (GAM) resumed 
peace talks to forge a deal to end the 30 years of war. The third round 
talks is planned in April in Helsinki with GAM ready to drop demands for 
independence in exchange for GoI agreeing to consider self-rule.

- The Central Government accepted a proposal from the Local Government 
of Papua to divide the Province into five provinces by 2009.

- The Local Government is to pay out IDR 500,000 (US$55) per family to 
1,024 IDP families in Maluku to allow them to return to their villages 
of origin.

- Some 30,000 - 40,000 Madurese have returned to the areas along Kahayan 
River, Central Kalimantan, with assistance from local NGOs.

Updates on natural disaster affected areas:

Earthquake and Tsunami in Sumatra (December 2004)

According to latest figure released by the National Coordinating Board 
for the Management of Disaster and IDPs/Refugees (BAKORNAS PBP), 123,597 
bodies have been buried, 113,937 are missing and 400,901 are displaced 
in Aceh Province. Meanwhile in North Sumatra Province, 130 have been 
buried, 24 are missing and 19,620 are displaced. Attention and 
assistance have been given from national and international communities. 
There are 12 UN agencies operating in the provinces in cooperation with 
central and local government to provide assistance.

Earthquake in Nabire, Papua (November 2004)

There has been no significant development during the recovery and 
rehabilitation phases due to lack of resources. Reconstruction of houses 
is not fully in place, thus many people remain living in temporary 
shelter. The Public Hospital in Nabire has not been renovated yet, thus 
inpatients are being treated in field hospital. Children are also going 
to temporary classroom built by the communities and the local 
government. Some bridges and roads have been repaired. The airport is 
now functional with limited capacity, while seaport is not functioning 
appropriately which impedes the supply of goods and sea transportation. 
The District Government has submitted a proposal for assistance to the 
Central Government, but no response has bee received yet. Intervention 
and support from international organizations are greatly needed.

Earthquake in Alor, East Nusa Tenggara (November 2004)

The Central Government has allocated IDR 60 billion for the 
reconstruction and rehabilitation of public facilities and houses. Some 
1,370 houses out of 3,854 damaged houses have been reconstructed. There 
is no concentrated IDP settlement, but those who lost their houses are 
living in tents close to their damaged houses. As the funds are only one 
third of estimated budget, the Local Government has requested additional 
funds, but no response has been received yet.

Volcanic activity of Mt. Egon in Maumere (September 2004)

As volcanic activities are continuing in February, the level of 
alertness was raised to its highest level (Level IV). Though it is 
difficult to predict, the volcano may erupt anytime. No evacuation has 
taken place yet, but the local authorities and command posts have 
advised the communities to remain alert and be prepared should 
evacuation is required.

During January - February, several earthquakes and tremors occurred in 
Palu - Central Sulawesi, Kepulauan Talaud - North Sulawesi, Garut and 
Bandung - West Java, Padang - West Sumatra, Bali and Lombok - West Nusa 
Tenggara. No significant number of deaths (one in Palu and Garut) and 
injuries, but the quakes have caused significant damage to houses and 
public facilities. Meanwhile, floods have inundated 18 out of 45 
sub-districts in southern Bandung - West Java, said to be the worst 
flooding in the last 10 years. More than 100,000 people living in some 
30,000 homes have been affected by the flood. A garbage mound landslide 
also occurred in Bandung that resulted in 69 deaths and 91 missing. In 
the meantime, some parts of Sumatra have been covered by haze, causing 
flight delays and school shutdowns.

Regional Updates:

Aceh:

Facilitated by Crisis Management Initiative lead by former Finnish 
President Martti Ahtisaari, the Government of Indonesia (GoI) and Free 
Aceh Movement (GAM) have organized two meeting rounds in Helsinki to 
discuss cooperation to rebuild the province after being hit by the 
disaster and try to forge a deal to end the 30 years of war. A third 
round of peace talks is planned in April in Helsinki with GAM ready to 
drop demands for independence in exchange for GoI agreeing to consider 
self-rule. Meanwhile, GoI is considering modifications to the 
implementation of special autonomy in the Province that will be brought 
to the next peace talks.

Papua:

The Central Government accepted a proposal from the Local Government of 
Papua to divide the Province into five provinces by 2009, namely West 
Papua, Cendrawasih Bay, North Papua, Central Mountainous Papua and South 
Papua. A draft legislation will be prepared accordingly by the Central 
Government. The division is based on social, cultural and geographical 
considerations, as well as the location of human and natural resources.

Maluku:

The Local Government is to pay out IDR 500,000 (US$55) per family to 
1,024 IDP families to allow them to return to their villages of origin. 
The Central Government has requested the local governments to resolve 
IDPs problems by the end of the year and agreed to allocate additional 
IDR 150 billion (USD 16.6 million) for Maluku to help the Local 
Government settles the problem.

Central Kalimantan:

OXFAM and the World Bank informed that some 30,000 - 40,000 Madurese 
have returned to the areas along Kahayan River, Central Kalimantan, with 
assistance from local NGOs. No significant problems and incidents during 
the return process were reported. Considering sensitivity of local 
community, a low profile approach should be continued.


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