OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Indonesia: Floods and Landslides
Central Java and East Java Provinces
27 December 2007


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

This situation report reflects reports from the Office of the UN 
Resident Coordinator / Humanitarian Coordinator (UN RC/HC) in Indonesia, 
based on information provided by the National Coordination Board for 
Disaster Management (BAKORNAS PB), the Provincial Coordination Units for 
Disaster Management (SATKORLAK PB) of Central and East Java Provinces, 
District Coordination Units for Disaster Management (SATLAK PB), the 
Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG), the Indonesian Red Cross 
(Palang Merah Indoensia - PMI), UN Agencies, international 
non-governmental organizations (INGOs) and media reports.

I. SITUATION

Central Java Province:

1. Since the afternoon of 25 December, seasonal torrential rains 
triggered landsides in nine Sub-Districts of Karanganyar District in the 
Province of Central Java. The Government of Indonesia National 
Coordination Board for Disaster Management, BAKORNAS PB, reported 65 
deaths, to date.

2. The road connecting Surakarta and the East Java Province through the 
Karanganyar District remains cut off, preventing access to many 
landslide affected areas.  A UNICEF team reported that two bridges were 
cut off in Matesih and Jumapolo Sub-Districts.  According to Church 
World Service (CWS), the worst affected area in the Tawangmanggu 
Sub-District require sleeping mats, blankets, hygiene kits, clean water 
and baby kits.  CWS reported that there are an estimated 200 displaced 
people in the Tawangmanggu Sub-District, mostly from Mogol village, 
where 20 houses were reportedly destroyed.  UNICEF also indicated a need 
for clean water, especially in Plosorejo, Karangrejo and Tawangsari 
villages in Kerjo Sub-District.

3. The overflowing Bengawan Solo River inundated at least 6,616 
households in the Municipality of Surakarta on 26 December, according to 
local government officials.  Five houses were swept away by the river, 
however no casualties were reported.  CWS reported that the water level 
has slowly receded and the community needs clean water, clothes, baby 
kits, baby clothes, medicines and hygiene kits.

4. Since 26 December, floods inundated over 400 houses in nine 
Sub-Districts of the Pekalongan District. Further flooding has affected 
an estimated 15,000 people.

East Java Province:

5. On 26 December, floods and landslides cut off roads and isolated 
hundreds of houses in the Mojowarno Sub-District, Jombang District, in 
the Province of East Java.  No casualties were reported, however 
assessments are ongoing.

6. From 25 December, seasonal torrential rains caused the Amprong River 
in Poncokusumo Sub-District, Malang Municipality, to inundate at least 
111 houses and caused two deaths.  Flood waters, reaching as high as two 
metres, increased rapidly preventing the community from saving any 
personal belongings.  The flood affected population are accommodated in 
several emergency shelter sites, managed by the Malang District 
Coordination Unit for Disaster Management, SATLAK PB.

7. Hundreds of houses in the Trenggalek District were inundated by flood 
waters from 26 December.  There were no reports on casualties, but 
search and rescue teams from Surabaya are assisting in the evacuation of 
the affected people, mostly located in Tugu Sub-District.

8. The city of Madiun was also severely inundated by torrential rainfall 
since 25 December.  Flood waters reached one metre high and hampered 
activities of tens of thousands of people.

9. In Ponorogo, thousand of houses were affected by flash floods that 
reached two metres.  Currently, hundreds of people are staying at the 
office of the Head of District after their houses were severely affected 
by this flooding.

Other Provinces:

10. Floods also affected the city of Padang and District of Pesisir 
Selatan in the Province of West Sumatera.  Thousands of people were 
affected by the floods in Padang, with one death and two people reported 
missing.

11. In the District of West Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara Province, floods 
affected an estimated 12,000 people.  There were no reports of 
casualties.

II.  NATIONAL RESPONSES

1. The President of the Republic of Indonesia instructed the Minister of 
Home Affairs to visit Karanganyar District on 26 December to assess the 
situation.  The Minister of Health also plans to visit the area in 
support of the evacuation and emergency response efforts.

2. The evacuation process in Karanganyar District continues to be 
jointly conducted by the Military (TNI), Police, the National Search and 
Rescue Agency (BASARNAS), PMI and volunteers.  Due to transportation 
challenges to the affected areas, heavy equipment only arrived on 26 
December afternoon. Meanwhile, many evacuation efforts have been 
conducted with simple equipment.

3. In all of the affected provinces, SATKORLAK PB and SATLAK PB 
coordinated the emergency responses and have provided emergency 
assistance, including food and drinking water, provided medical 
treatment and established IDP centres or emergency tents.  In an 
isolated area of Malang District, TNI air-dropped food to an affected 
community.  A coordination meeting co-chaired by the Central Java 
SATKORLAK PB and the Karanganyar District SATLAK PB will take place on 
27 December afternoon to report on latest updates and assess the needs 
and assistance on the ground.  Although thousands of people have been 
affected by the recent floods and landslides, not all are in need of 
humanitarian assistance.

4. PMI/ IFRC deployed Satgana Teams to the flood and landslide affected 
areas in the Provinces of Central Java and East Java.  In Karanganyar 
District, PMI/ IFRC assisted in the evacuation of casualties and 
operations of field kitchens.  PMI Headquarters dispatched 1,500 hygiene 
kits to its Central Java and East Java Chapters for distribution.  The 
PMI Central Java Chapter also dispatched 150 tarpaulins and 50 family 
kits to its Karanganyar branch and 50 family tents and tarpaulins to its 
Surakarta branch.

III.  INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

1. UNICEF sent a two-person team from its Semarang office in Central 
Java to Karanganyar to assess the situation and offer assistance, if 
required. The team will participate in a coordination meeting to gather 
more information on the situation and needs.

2. On 26 December, CRS distributed 500 blankets, 500 sleeping mats and 
100 plastic tarps in five affected Sub-Districts of Sragen District, 
Central Java.  CRS is conducting needs assessments in Karanganyar 
District.

3. CWS will distribute 250 blankets, 250 sleeping mats and 100 boxes of 
mineral water as an initial response in Karanganyar District and 
Surakarta.

4. HOPE Worldwide will send a disaster relief team to deliver medical 
supplies to the worst affected areas from its Jakarta warehouse.  The 
team will also conduct an assessment of the current situation.

5. Oxfam Great Britain will distribute 4,000 sarongs, 1,000 sleeping 
mats and 4,000 slippers to flood affected communities in Surakarta. 
Oxfam GB plans to dispatch water bladders, water tanks and water pumps, 
if needed. In cooperation with its local partner, Oxfam GB is conducting 
an assessment in the Karanganyar District.

6. The Office of the UN RC/HC in Jakarta continues to monitor the 
situation and is in regular contact with pertinent government and 
non-government institutions, as well as with PMI. BMG weather forecasts 
indicate continued heavy rains until 30 December.

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


For further information, please contact:

UN RC/HC Office Jakarta

Mr. Ignacio Leon-Garcia
Tel. +62 21 314 1308
Mob. +62 812 10 87 277

Ms. Mindaraga Rahardja
Tel. +62 21 314 1308
Mob.+62 811 82 52 07


Desk Officer:

New York
Ms. Kendra Clegg
Tel. +1 917 367 3524
Email: clegg@un.org

Geneva
Mr. Jean Verheyden
Tel. +41 22 917 1381
Email: verheyden@un.org


Press contact:

New York
Ms. Stephanie Bunker
Tel. +1 917 367 5126

Geneva
Ms. Elizabeth Byrs
Tel. +41 22 917 2653

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