A Federation assessment team that arrived in the quake stricken area of Sumatra yesterday reports that hospitals in Bengkulu have been badly damaged and patients are being cared for under tents. Initial surveys indicate that the provision of hospital facilities, emergency shelter and assistance with the rebuilding of family homes are the most important areas of need.
period covered: 6 to 8 June
The context
At the request of the Indonesian Red Cross (Palang Merah Indonesia - PMI), the International Federation launched a preliminary appeal for CHF 5.4 million in cash for the Society's emergency relief operation in aid of victims of the earthquake that struck Sumatra late on Sunday, 4 June. A Federation assessment team arrived in Sumatra on Wednesday. The information below is based on the team’s first report from the quake stricken area
Latest events
Number of reported dead: 141 (Government figures, includes town of Manna).
Number of seriously injured: 530, lightly injured: 1,556. Victims are still being brought into Bengkulu hospitals. Search and rescue teams are still working in 2 southern districts, and will complete the task today.
600 aftershocks have been recorded, Weather is unstable, storms and rain.
Bengkulu Airport is now open. Bengkulu Harbour is due to reopen this morning, (8/6) There is regular shipping from Jakarta.
Enggano Island
Federation team travelled by helicopter and carried out a preliminary assessment on the island which was near the quake epicentre. Findings indicate no deaths, some light injuries but that 90% of the infrastructure has been destroyed; people are living with no shelter.
Red Cross/Red Crescent action
The Federation team with PMI headquarters staff arrived yesterday at Bengkulu. Until today PMI and Federation are the only aid teams in action, apart from a Japanese medical team and a Singapore military medical team. The team met on arrival with the District Governor, who is co-ordinating the relief operation. On behalf of the PMI it handed over medical assistance to the hospital. Team members also met with local government officials, responsible for water, transport and public works. Today, some of the team members travelled to Manna to do a survey of rural areas.
The local PMI Chapter is active in relief and rescue, with more than 20 volunteers plus youth volunteers from the local university.
Action by government and other agencies
The Indonesian departed for Enggano, with medical supplies and 15 tons of rice. The Dutch and Belgium navy are also assisting.
A five member UNDAC Team arrived on Thursday. The Federation team were expected to have a co-ordination meeting with UNDAC and also attended a meeting with the governor and all agencies late into Thursday night.
Outstanding needs
Food
At present, whilst there are no food shortages and the government has sufficient stocks, the Federation may provide limited food for the hundreds of people without shelter on Enggano island.
Non Food Items
1000 family household kits are currently being purchased and deployed to the area.
Health
Detailed list of medical supplies needed is being prepared by the authorities. Monthly government supplies of medicines were delivered last week .
The Federation Health Delegate visited all the three hospitals: 1 public 250 bed hospital; one military 25 bed hospital and a private 45 bed hospital. The inpatient part of the public hospital is completely unusable -- eliminating approx. 75% of the bed capacity in the town. The hospital has 20 doctors and 160 nurses.
Currently 125 injured quake victims are housed in the open under canvas. The operating theatre is not functioning. Operations are being conducted in the military hospital and in the private hospital in town.
Government is providing food for patients.
Situation for patients is totally inadequate, even by very basic health standards.
Following a request from the government and PMI, the Federation will urgently deploy (for departure on Friday) a hospital Emergency Response Unit (ERU) without medical staff.
The hospital will have a 150 IP capacity, OT for abdominal surgery, portable X-ray, pharmaceutical store, basic laboratory and water distribution (mains water is available). The electricity supply is functioning.
Water and Sanitation
After initial assessment and meeting with local government officers in Bengkulu Town, the Federation team concluded that the water situation is under control.
UNDAC team are looking at supplying 2 overhead water tanks for one of the hospitals, ex Singapore.
Future needs are being assessed.
Shelter
This will be one of the main areas where assistance is needed. Families with simple dwellings that have been damaged or destroyed in the quake will receive temporary shelter materials and plans will also be made to rebuild/repair using cement, roofing, iron ,timber.
Delegates needed
A logistics delegate will arrive in Jakarta on Saturday. A further relief delegate may be required.
External relations - Government/UN/NGOs/Media
There has been extensive co-ordination with government authorities, the UN and other organisations in Jakarta and Bengkulu. The PMI/Federation team travelled on Thursday to Enggano island by helicopter, with a BBC team and have carried out a high number of media interviews. Further information as well as photographs will be available in the coming hours.
Contributions
While an amount of about CHF 2.5m has been pledged by Red Cross donors and governments, only 57,000 has been received. Donors are, therefore, asked to urgently provide hard pledges as well as to consider contributions to the ERU field hospital and to shelter items in the preliminary Appeal. A revised appeal, that will most certainly focus on emergency shelter and relief supplies as well as the field hospital will be issued as soon as the assessment is concluded.
See Annex 1 for details.
For further information please contact Antony Spalton at the Secretariat (+41 22 730 4252) or Jessica Barry in the field (tel: +41 79 217 3376)
Hiroshi Higashiura
Director
Asia & Pacific Department
Peter Rees-Gildea
Director
Operations Funding and Reporting Department
