OCHA Situation Report No.4
Indonesia - Volcano - Update
Mt. Merapi, Central Java Province
24 April 2006


This report is developed by HC/RC Office in Indonesia based on 
information provided by the Research and Technology Development Agency 
for Vulcanology (BPPTK) Yogyakarta, National Coordinating Board for the 
Management of Disaster (BAKORNAS PB), Ministry of Social Affairs, 
Ministry of Health, District Executing Unit for the Management of 
Disaster (SATLAK PB) of Boyolali District, Magelang District, Sleman 
District, and Klaten District, Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), USAID, OXFAM 
GB, and media reports.

I. SITUATION

1. Based on the monitoring report by BPPTK, in the past three days (22 - 
24 Apr.) there have been 22 shallow volcanic tremors, 46 streams of 
lava, and 414 multiphase tremors with white and thick SO2 smoke of 200 m 
height from its crater. The alert level of Mt. Merapi still remains in 
level - III.

2. According to SATLAK PB Boyolali (24 Apr.), 114 persons (mostly 
pregnant women, elderly and children under 5 years old) from Tlogolele 
Village of Selo Sub-District have been evacuated and are temporarily 
sheltered in Samiran Village Hall and Bungalow.

3. According to SATLAK PB Magelang, as of Monday (24 Apr.), the total 
number of displaced persons has reached up to 1,217, including 14 
pregnant women, 33 babies, 149 children under 5 years old and 220 
elderly people.

4. According to Head of Kemalang Sub-District of Klaten District (24 
Apr), approximately 1,500 persons have been evacuated from Sidorejo and 
Tegal Mulyo Village of Kemalang Sub-District to two different IDP sites, 
namely Dompol Village (819 persons) and Kemalang Sub-District Complex 
(681 persons).  These displaced persons have been temporarily sheltered 
in public facilities (e.g., school buildings, village hall, sub-district 
meeting hall, etc.).  Tents have also been erected but the displaced 
persons have not occupied them. Some 600 persons from Bale Rante 
Village, approximately 8 kilometres from the crater, also need to be 
evacuated, however, these villagers are still reluctant.  Once they 
agreed to be evacuated, these people will be accommodated in temporary 
shelters located in Ngemplak Seneng Village, which is about 15 
kilometres from the crater.

5. For Sleman District, evacuation activity has not started yet as 
villagers in risk areas are still reluctant to leave their homes. 
However, the details of evacuation process have been arranged by members 
of SATLAK PB Sleman, such as the establishment of sirens as an early 
warning signs in 4 different places (two in Kaliurang, one each in 
Cangkringan and Turi Sub-District), meeting points, transportation modes 
and routes, as well as evacuation/IDP sites.  According to the latest 
data provided by SATLAK PB Sleman, the most vulnerable include 
Umbulharjo (846 persons), Glagaharjo (707), Kepuharjo (380) Village of 
Cangkringan Sub-District, Girikerto (879 persons) and Wonokerto (486 
persons) Village of Turi Sub-District and Purwobangun (758 persons) 
Village of Pakem Sub-District.

6. Villagers who have shown reluctance to relocate have expressed 
concerns about the safety of their belongings.

II. NATIONAL RESPONSE

7. SATLAK PB Boyolali, Magelang, Klaten will continue the socialization, 
as well as the evacuation process, especially in the most vulnerable 
areas ("vulnerable zone III").  Basic emergency needs (e.g., food, 
drinking water, pharmaceutical supplies, etc.) have also been dropped at 
each IDP site/location.

8. SATLAK PB Sleman will continue to be on stand-by for immediate 
evacuation once the Governor of Yogyakarta, Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX 
gives the instruction or the alert level of Mt. Merapi is increased to 
the highest level - which is level IV (eruption could be within 24 
hours).

9. On Sunday (23 Apr.), the Provincial Government of Central Java 
dispatched 40 mobile phones to Magelang District.  These mobile phones 
have been dispersed primarily to villages identified as "vulnerable zone 
III".

10. BAKORNAS, SATKORLAK PB Yogyakarta and Central Java continue to 
closely monitor the situation in the four districts mentioned above.

11. The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), has actively participated in the 
evacuation process and their volunteers have also been engaged in 
community risk awareness.  Based on the findings of the assessments 
conducted by Water and Sanitation (WATSAN) and medical action teams, on 
Monday (24 Apr.), PMI mobilized two water facilities and two additional 
ambulances with mobile medical teams and clinic facilities for Magelang 
and Sleman.

III. INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

12. The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International 
Development (USAID) will provide USD 50,000 to the International 
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), working with 
the Indonesian Red Cross/Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI), to support 
preparedness efforts including mobilization of PMI volunteers, health 
workers and ambulance services, communications, field kitchens and 
provision of relief supplies.

13. OXFAM GB will deploy 3 teams on a daily basis to monitor and assess 
the situation in various vulnerable areas and IDP sites.

14. The UN HC/RC Office in Jakarta is planning to deploy a staff member 
to closely monitor the situation, review coordination and preparedness 
mechanisms.  The UN HC/RC Office will also continue to be in direct 
contact with pertinent government and non-government institutions, as 
well as with the Indonesian Red Cross to monitor the situation.

IV. REQUIRED NEEDS

15. SATLAK PB Magelang mentioned that they are lacking for supply of 
milk powder for babies, children under 5 years old, as well as pregnant 
and lactating mothers.

16.Ministry of Social Affairs indicated the need for radio 
communications - Single-Side Band (SSB) - with high frequency to enable 
pertinent stakeholders at village, sub-district, district and provincial 
level, to have better coordination in the evacuation process and 
emergency response.

17.The UN RC/HC Office in Jakarta will continue to be in direct contact 
with pertinent government and non-government institutions, as well as 
with the Indonesian Red Cross to monitor the situation.

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


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Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
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  M. Meier, direct Tel. +41-22-917 11 59

Press contact:
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  NYC - Ms. S. Bunker, direct Tel. + 1-917 367 5126

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