OCHA Situation Report No. 7
Indonesia - Volcano - Update
Mt. Merapi, Central Java Province
5 May 2006


This report is developed by the RC/HC 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), District Executing Unit for the 
Management of Disaster (SATLAK PB) of Boyolali District, Magelang 
District, Sleman District, and Klaten District, WHO, USAID, OXFAM GB, 
Save the Children UK, Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), and media reports.

I. SITUATION

1. According to BPPTK Yogyakarta, on Thursday (4 May) at 0200 hours lava 
spilled out from Merapi's new lava dome spreading a distance of 200 
meters on the southern flank.  A static burning point was also spotted 
from Deles Sub Village of Sidorejo Village in Klaten District. Lava 
outflows and the emergence of static burning points are signs of 
imminent eruption. On that day, there was also a shallow volcanic 
tremor, 102 multi phase tremors, and 84 events of rock falls. On Friday 
(5 May), during the period of 0000 - 0600 hours, there were 19 
multiphase tremors and 25 events of rock falls. The alert level of Mt. 
Merapi still remains at Level III.

2. SATLAK PB Boyolali reported (5 May) that some IDPs have returned to 
their sub-village homes. Currently only 35 displaced persons remain at 
IDPs shelters in Selo (23) and Musuk (12) Sub-District.

3. In Magelang District, as of Friday (5 May) morning, the total number 
of IDPs are 1,483 persons, scattered in Srumbung (810), Muntilan (831) 
and Sawangan (42) Sub-District.

4. SATLAK PB Klaten District reported (5 May) that many IDPs have 
decided to return to their sub-village homes.Only 1,934 persons remain 
in 3 IDPs shelters located in Dompol and Keputran Village of Kemalang 
Sub-District and in Ngemplak Seneng Village of Manis Renggo 
Sub-District.  Last week (28 April), the number of IDPs reached a total 
of 2,194 persons. In this district, eye infection disease has spread 
amongst displaced persons in the shelters. The District Health Office 
has been instructed to take action to prevent the further spread of this 
disease.

5. SATLAK Sleman reported (5 May) that 1,643 persons have voluntarily 
left their sub-village homes and sought temporary shelters in 8 
different IDPs sites. These sites are located in 3 sub-districts, namely 
Turi, Pakem and Cangkringan. The total number of IDPs is 1,643.

II. NATIONAL RESPONSE

6. The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) from all affected districts continue 
to be on alert and mobilized for assignment at POSKO (Post of Command 
for disaster response).  Under the coordination of SATLAK, PMI Branch 
has been involved in the evacuation of IDPs and the operation of Health 
POSKO and the Public Kitchen.  It also has a role in the "final 
sweeping" of residents who have been left out at the last moment.

7. PMI, with the support of IFRC and USAID, have provided hygiene kits 
for 15,000 persons (= 3,000 HH) and sleeping mats for 18,750 persons (= 
3,750 HH) in Magelang, Boyolali and Klaten District.  For IDPs in 
Sleman, PMI will provide hygiene kits for 5,000 persons (= 1,000 HH) and 
sleeping mats for 6,250 persons (= 1,250 HH).  The distribution of these 
hygiene kits and sleeping mats are on-going.  Some 4,000 blankets have 
also been dispatched from PMI National Headquarters as an added response 
to required needs at the IDPs sites.

8.  The Central Government (4 May) has provided IDR 250 million to each 
of the four district governments to strengthen their preparedness 
measures.

III.  INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

9. OXFAM GB is preparing to provide temporary water and sanitation 
facilities for IDPs sites in the four affected districts.  OXFAM GB will 
also support Universitas Pembangunan Nasional UPN, Yogyakarta, in 
conducting a series of refresher and training courses on coordination, 
communication and evacuation. This will take place in 59 of the most 
prone sub-villages (of all the four districts).

10. Save the Children UK and PLAN International have also deployed staff 
to undertake assessments of the situation.

11. A team of four volcanic hazard specialists from the U.S. Geological 
Service (USGS) have been assisting the Indonesian Center for Volcanology 
and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) at Merapi for the past week. 
The team is in Indonesia for USAID Volcano Disaster Assistance Programme 
(VDAP) and was enroute to North Sulawesi when Merapi became active. 
The team was diverted to Yogyakarta at the request of CVGHM and USAID to 
assist in their crisis response. FDAP is providing monitoring equipment 
and scientific interpretation to assist CVGHM.On behalf of Indonesia, 
the USGS made a request to the International Charter for Space and 
Disaster to provide a range of satellite data that would assist in 
monitoring changes at the volcano.

12. WHO will continue to be in close contact with the Health Crisis 
Center (PPIK) at the Ministry of Health, as well as with BAKORNAS and 
Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta.  WHO also facilitates the team for 
the MOH on developing contingency plans and is currently in the process 
of mobilizing resources, such as radio equipped four-wheel drive 
vehicles, and radio equipment, for medical teams, the hospital and 
Command Post.

13. The UN HC/RC Office 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.

IV. REQUIRED ASSISTANCE

14. PMI noted that some of the required assistance includes blankets, 
hygiene kits and baby milk.

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

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

Desk officers:
  G. Galli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 3171
  R. Richards, direct Tel. +41-22-917 3183

Press contact:
  GVA - Ms. E. Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 265
  NYC - Ms. S. Bunker, direct Tel. + 1-917 367 5126

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