OCHA Situation Report No. 8
Indonesia: Volcanic Activity
15 May 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

This situation report is based on information provided by the office of 
the United Nations Resident / Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC)'s office 
in Jakarta.

SITUATION

1. On 13 May, the Directorate of Vulcanology and Geological Hazard 
Mitigation of the Indonesian Government raised the level of alertness 
for Mt.Merapi from level III to level IV, which could indicate the 
imminent eruption of the volcano.

2. The Research and Technology Development Agency for Vulcanology 
(BPPTK) Yogyakarta reported on 15 May that many volcanic earthquakes, 
pyroclastic (heat clouds) flows and hot lava flows were observed. BPPTK 
predicted lava flowing or collapse of the dome to affect up to more than 
60,000 people living in 9-10 km range.

3. According to the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), on 15 May the number of 
displaced persons in Magelang is 2,754 (in 13 sites), 296 in Boyolali 
(in three sites), 5,444 in Sleman (in seven sites), and 3,136 in Klaten 
(in three sites), or totalling to 11,633. The numbers are fluctuating 
due to rapid movement of the displaced persons.

4. The District Executing Unit for the Management of Disaster (SATLAK 
PB) selectively prioritised the evacuation of residents from 21 villages 
in four high-risk sub-districts and estimated around 11,000 people to be 
evacuated.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

5. The head of Sleman and Magelang District instructed all possible 
assistance to be communicated and managed through SATLAK PB Sleman and 
Magelang District. The contact person of Sleman District is Widi 
Sutikno, phone number 62-812-295-3568 or 62-274-898-350. The contact 
person of Magelang District is Indarjo, phone number 62-816-422-4447 or 
62-293-789-182.

6. According to the reports form IFRC, the local government has given 
PMI two sites capable of accommodating 5,000 people in Megelang. In 
Boyolali, Klaten and Sleman, PMI volunteers are providing filed kitchen 
services, mobile health clinics, hygiene kits, sleeping mats, plastic 
sheeting and blankets. PMI deployed an assessment team to observe water 
and sanitation facilities in all PMI command posts.

7. The head of Magelang district indicated that for all of their 45 
evacuation sites, they are in need of and would welcome contributions of 
the following materials.

- 300 units of water and sanitation facilities and 20 units public
   kitchen
- 5,000 sleeping mats and 5,000 mattresses
- Sanitary napkins, baby milk, and supplementary food for baby and
   infants
- 30 units school tents and tents for health services
- 20 generators
- 5,000 blankets
- 6,000 hygiene kits
- 45 Hand-held radios (walkie-talkies)
- 12 rigs (trucks).

For the elderly, 500 chamber pots and 90 wheelchairs are required.


INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

8. The National Coordinating Board for the Management of Disaster of the 
Government (BAKORNAS) and OCHA fielded a joint mission to the affected 
sites on 13 May.

9. The UN Technical Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction in Jakarta 
held a meeting with BAKORNAS, IFRC/PMI, USAID and AUSAID on 13 May, and 
decided that a joint UN/PMI inter-agency team for sectoral needs 
assessment be deployed on 16 May.

10. Any international assistance should be coordinated by OCHA through 
Regina Rahadi, phone no. 62-811-93-9479.

11. 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.

12. OCHA is in close contact with the office of the UN RC/HC and will 
continue reporting as further information is made available. This 
situation report, together with the information on contributions and 
other ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet 
Website at http://www.reliefweb.int/

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:
  Ms. Masayo Kondo   direct Tel. +41-22-917 1997
  Mr. Masaaki Nakagawa  direct Tel. +41-22-917 4034

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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