Indonesia: Earthquake Situation Report No. 17

This report was issued by OCHA New York, with inputs from OCHA Indonesia. It covers the period from 20 October 2009 to 23 October 2009. The next report will be issued on or around 27 October 2009.

I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

- Heavy rains raise concerns for families who have not yet received emergency shelter or are living in makeshift accommodations.

- Rains also pose threat to people living in landslide-prone areas.

- Priority needs include transitional shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene and support for educational facilities.

- Affected families are requesting shelter assistance in the form of plastic sheeting, tools, cash, building materials (such as cement, wood and fixings) and information/training.

- Critical projects, especially in the WASH sector suffer due to lack of funding.

II. Situation Overview

As the Government of Indonesia is in the process of verifying village-level impact data, the number of estimated deaths and damaged houses have not changed since last reported on 15 October.

Complete villages were swept away by mudslides triggered by the earthquake of 30 September in West Sumatra. Heavy rains over the past few days pose serious threats to communities living in earthquakeaffected and landslide-prone areas. The steep terrain that characterizes West Sumatra is now more susceptible to landslides during the rainy season, which is expected to last until February/March of next year. Assessments have been conducted to identify villages most at risk. The government has already relocated 568 households (3,000 people) living around the Maninjau Lake in Agam district.

For most sectors, because of access constraints and lack of detailed data, coordination of distribution activities is a major challenge. The Logistics Cluster has identified at least eight villages in Padang Pariaman and Agam districts as being extremely difficult to reach unless by air, or on foot.

According to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), electricity has been restored in 95 percent of affected areas, while telephone communications has been fully restored. The National Water Utility Board (PDAM) expects repairs on the entire water pipe network in Padang to be completed within the next six months, while repairs and reconstruction on its main water treatment plant will be completed on 31 October.