OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Indonesia Earthquakes Situation
28-29 March 2005


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Overview

In the evening of 28 March 2005, at 23:08 hours, a strong earthquake
measuring 8.7 on the Moment Magnitude occurred off the west coast of
Sumatra Island in Indonesia (2.065=B0N, 97.010=B0E), followed by some
fifteen aftershocks ranging from 6.7 to 4.9 Moment Magnitude. UNESCO
reports that at least seven of the aftershocks occurred on the island of
Nias. There are no reports of tsunami waves as a result of the latest
earthquakes.

Initial reports indicate that Nias Island, Simeulue Island and the
Banyak Islands are the locations worst affected by the latest
earthquakes. A map is attached.

Nias Island, with an estimated population of 444,000, is situated off
the coast of North Sumatra province and south of Simeulue. There are
unconfirmed figures of 200 casualties, 500 injured and 2,000 displaced,
as well as major infrastructure damage. The Ministry of Public Works
reports that some 85% of structures in the capital, Gumung Sitoli, have
been damaged, while media reports state that hundreds of houses have
collapsed. Only one third of the usual power supply is available. The
airfield was slightly damaged, but 1,200 metres remain usable. Surfaid,
an international NGO based on Nias, has a supply of WHO medical kits
available for distribution. There are some 1,780 people registered as
internally displaced and an estimated 122 people reported killed as a
result of the tsunami of 26 December 2004.

Simeulue Island is the largest island off the southwest coast of Aceh
province and has an estimated population of 77,751 people. A UN
inter-agency advance assessment mission to Simeulue that arrived on the
island at 12:45 hours, reports that the earthquake killed 3 people and
injured 40 others. Some 25-30 people were hospitalized. Medical care is
available. While there is infrastructure damage, the road network is in
good condition, but bridges have been weakened. The airport is reported
to be intact and has the capacity to receive two Twin Otter aircraft.
Some 18,000 people were internally displaced and 10 people were reported
killed as a result of the tsunami on 26 December 2004.

The Banyak Islands are situated between Nias and Simeulue islands with
an estimated population of 5,000 people. Surfaid is planning an
assessment mission to the Banyak Islands.

The west coast of Sumatra Island suffered some damage particularly at
Singkil in Aceh Province. A damage assessment is required.  Other damage
assessments focusing on Aceh Barat and Nagan Raya districts have found
the situation normal.

All UN staff are reported as safe in Banda Aceh, Meulaboh, Calang and
Lamno. There are no casualties reported in the humanitarian aid
community.

Immediate Actions

The Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator and OCHA Banda Aceh met with the
Acting Governor of Banda Aceh at 05:30 hours on 29 March and received
approval for joint Government and UN inter-agency advance assessment
missions to Nias and Simeulue islands. It is likely the seven-person
advance teams will remain in Nias and Simeulue for up to three days to:

(1) assess runway conditions for the landing of aircraft,
(2) complete an aerial survey
(3) set-up a communications base, and
(4) begin an initial humanitarian needs assessment.

The advance teams, which arrived on the islands early this afternoon,
will advise the Governors of Aceh and Northern Sumatra provinces and the
UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator on the requirement for deployment of
larger back-up assessment teams comprised of OCHA, WFP, SCF, UNICEF, JLC
and CARE, as well as advise on the need for the mobilisation of UNDAC
teams, medical teams, and additional search and rescue teams. The larger
assessment team is available for immediate deployment and standing by to
deploy.

The Government Posko (control post) from Medan has established a forward
operations base in Sibolga on the west coast of Sumatra. Government
Officials from Jakarta have been despatched to both Nias and Simeulue to
assess the requirement for international assistance. They are expected
to report initial findings back to BAKORNAS in Jakarta by the end of the
day.

Nias:

The local authorities and the inter-agency assessment team have
established a joint coordination centre.

Evacuation of severely injured people to the hospital in Sibolga has
started, using three United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS)
helicopters.

Basic medical supplies have been delivered to Nias to treat the wounded.
More supplies will be sent tomorrow.

Swiss and French Search and Rescue Teams who were based in Sumatra have
been flown to Nias to assist in search and rescue. The Government is
assessing the requirement for further search and rescue support as well
as the need for additional international assistance.

IOM reports that it is starting relief shipments from Sumatra to Nias
immediately.

IFRC reports that the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) has volunteers on site
in Nias and is despatching further teams and medical assistance to the
island.

Simeulue

The joint Government/Inter-Agency assessment team is on the island and
working to provide further information on requirements.

There are six NGOs present on Simeulue Island: PMI (Indonesian Red
Cross), MSF, MDM, CARDI, CARE Australia and Concern.

Save the Children Fund is dispatching relief supplies to Simeulue
immediately.

Other Ongoing Action/Coordination Information

>From the perspective of the United Nations, Banda Aceh is the
communications and logistics hub for the relief operation, which is
being led by the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator. The United Nations
Disaster Management Team in Jakarta has confirmed agreement to this
arrangement. The overall response is being coordinated by the
Humanitarian Coordinator a.i.

OCHA Jakarta is maintaining close contact with BAKORNAS, the
Government's Disaster Management Agency.

The Provincial Government and the Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator in
Banda Aceh will convene a press briefing at 1900 hrs (local) this
evening in Banda Aceh to provide preliminary information to the media.

The UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) Team is on standby
if required.

OCHA Geneva reports 20 Search and Rescue teams are on standby in the
region ready to be deployed should the Government request international
assistance.

UN Agencies and non-governmental organisations confirm that medical kits
and supplies, personal hygiene kits for women and men and other relief
items are in place in Banda Aceh and Medan and are on standby for
emergency distribution on the basis of to-be-provided assessment
information. The Government has reported the need for medical supplies
and personnel, search and rescue teams, food, body bags, emergency
shelter/tents and baby/infant food. Immediate needs can be met from
supplies made available for tsunami-affected people while the rapid
assessment process is ongoing.

UNJLC is assessing the transport and fuel needs for the relief operation
to the affected islands. Banda Aceh will be the hub for operations.
However, refueling is planned to take place in Sibolga in North Sumatra.
Sibolga is also the location of the logistics centre for the national
authorities coordinating relief efforts on the islands.

IFRC informed OCHA that they are re-routing a Cessna and a helicopter to
Meulaboh and will send them to Nias if needs arise. They will have water
and sanitation, health, and communications capacity. A landing craft has
also been loaded and will be waiting in Meulaboh. IFRC also has a
permanent team in Simeulue but has not yet been able to communicate with
them.

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