In September 2007, two massive earthquakes struck the Mentawai Islands leaving tens of thousands in dire need. SurfAid donors responded with donations to fund an immediate relief effort. These are the results of that support.
The Situation
Located 150 kilometers off the coast of Sumatra, the Mentawai Islands are home to 70,000 residents spread throughout 203 isolated villages on four islands.
The earthquake measuring 8.4 on the Richter scale that struck off West Sumatra, Indonesia, at 6.10pm on Wednesday 12 September 2007 was the strongest earthquake measured in the world so far that year. Its epicentre was 130km (80 miles) SW of Bengkulu and at an ocean depth of 34km (21.1 miles).
The following morning another earthquake measuring 7.9 struck at 6.49am. While smaller in magnitude, it was felt more strongly in the Mentawai Islands as the epicentre was much closer - 210km (130 miles) NW of Bengkulu and 190km (115 miles) SSE of Padang, and at an ocean depth of 30km (18.6 miles).
In Padang, the regional capital on the mainland of West Sumatra, SurfAid's Kirk Willcox describes his experience with the first quake:
"It started to shake, just a tremble at first, and then got stronger. Everyone ran onto the road outside and it started rolling like a snake, up and down, and cars rocking side to side as though people were pushing them, and the big electricity tower behind was swaying."
SurfAid International had 51 staff already working throughout the Mentawai Islands when the earthquakes struck and it quickly became apparent that the damage was widespread, particularly in the south of the four-island chain nearest to the epicentres. Tidal/tsunami surges also travelled up rivers destroying nearby homes and schools.
More than 30,000 people were displaced from their homes, out of a total Mentawai population of 70,000. High endemic rates of infectious disease already exist in the Mentawai and the situation was exacerbated by the living conditions of the displaced population, creating a high risk of disease outbreaks.
The Response
SurfAid went into emergency mode with the following priorities:
- To deliver shelter, building and hygiene kits and food to villages in the Mentawai Islands.
- To make a rapid health and situation assessment report of all villages visited.
- To treat all seriously sick people and report any disease outbreaks
The building kits included: Shovel, hoe, pliers, sharpening stone, saw, hammer, axe, file, nail puller (crowbar), machete, assorted nails (4kg), bucket and wire.
The shelter kits included: Tarpaulin (4 x 6m and 5 x 8m), plastic mat, and nylon rope.
The hygiene kits included: Bucket, washing brush, plastic soap case, soap (2 bars), toothbrush (5), comb (2), small towel (5), water dipper and mirror.
SurfAid offered its marine and communications expertise, plus seven years' working knowledge of the Mentawais, to other NGOs and Government agencies.
SurfAid teamed up with the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), who were also supported by the German Red Cross, and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF - Doctors Without Borders) Belgium, who provided doctors, nurses and psychologists.
SurfAid provided logistical support to UNICEF and helped them to carry out their emergency assessments of the islands.
SurfAid contracted former staff member, Dr Adit, to train SurfAid staff in doing rapid medical assessments.
And SurfAid's international offices helped to promote the urgent need of the emergency and went into fundraising mode.
Over the course of Phase 1 of the emergency response, SurfAid dispatched six boats to the stricken region, on a rotating charter system, with nine missions accomplished. The boats were: Budyadahri, D'bora, Melaleuca, Wijaya, Indies Trader I and Mikumba.
Emergency Relief Milestones
Boat charters: 9
Building kits: 2,652
Shelter kits: 2,447
Hygiene kits: 2,345
Mosquito nets: 579
Rice: 1.25 tonnes
Areas covered: Siberut Selatan (South Siberut), Sipora, Pagai Utara (North
Pagai) and Pagai Selatan (South Pagai)
Base population: 47,476
Medical Milestones
Individuals medically assessed: 2,646
Children less than 5 years assessed: 703
Prevalence of respiratory tract infection in children: 60%
Mental health activities provided to: 8,564
Individuals counselled one-on-one: 113
The biggest risk was a massive disease outbreak which thanks in part to our efforts did not occur.
During the emergency, SurfAid was invited by OCHA to present the Mentawai situation to the wider NGO and donor community in their Jakarta headquarters. Fernando Hesse, NGO and Donor Relations Officer, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Indonesia, said:
"We praise SurfAid International for bringing to the attention of the humanitarian community the dire situation of the Mentawai Islands' people. SurfAid's presence in the area much before the disaster struck was instrumental in quickly relaying the needs and gaps in assistance required, calling on us for their support. Without their presence there, those needs could have otherwise remained forgotten in those remote areas, out of the humanitarian knowledge."
The Future
'Families in dollar-a-day poverty now face the additional burden of homelessness. SurfAid is determined to assist in the rehabilitation process as far as funding permits and without compromising our important long-term programs,' SurfAid CEO Dr Dave Jenkins said.
SurfAid is currently assessing its capacity to assist in rebuilding and construction projects across the Mentawai region.
SurfAid undertook damage assessments with Build Change, a centre for design and construction of earthquake resistant houses, which has been working in Aceh since the major earthquake and tsunami in December 2004.
One plan under consideration is the construction of earthquake-resistant buildings in four Mentawai sub-districts as demonstration buildings for the community, which could then be utilised as community centres specialising in disaster management and public health education.
'Following the major earthquakes, the Mentawai communities are now much more aware of the great need to be prepared for natural disasters,' E-Prep program manager Jason Brown said. 'The local government's support for emergency planning and budgeting will mean that all communities in the Mentawai can be ready for any future events.'
Acknowledgements & Recognition of Support
SurfAid would like to extend our considerable appreciation to everyone who contributed to this effort and, in particular, the following people and organizations:
Institutional Donors
AusAID
NZAID (HAF)
Care/USAID
OCHA
$20,000+
Quiksilver Foundation
Billabong
$10,000+
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Christopher Ritchie
Coastalwatch.com
Sean Nevett
$5,000+
Volcom
Bemus Landscape
Bryan & Lisa Watson
Frank Ragen
$1,000+
The Palmer Family
Windansea Surf Club
SurfExpo
Reef Redemption
Glen Volk
Kris Haworth
Indies Trader Marine Adventures
Kandui Resorts Maury Levin
ASR
Dogeared Jewelry
Eric Benson
Sun Diego
Bill Dreiss
CJ Hobgood
Karl & Paula Luber John Jenkins
Nicholas Aitken
Travelplan Australia Pty Ltd, Toby Withers
Peter Brown
Special Thanks
Board Retailers Association
SIMA
Surf Gallery, Laguna Beach
Jesse Faen
Robb Havassy
Big Red Productions
Christian Welch Paul Riehle
Santiago Aguerre
Aaron Behle
Candy Harris
Fernando Aguerre
CJ Olivares
Bill Bemus All of the 100s of donors worldwide that contributed to this
effort and the many surfing and other websites worldwide who ran our appeal.
Surat Sabeu
On behalf of the SurfAid International team and the local communities, thank you (surat sabeu in Mentawai dialect) for your generous support of our Mentawai Earthquake Emergency Relief Program.