ReliefWeb

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In Brief

Appeal No. 25/04; Operations Update No. 01; Period covered: 12 November to 07 December, 2004; Appeal coverage: expected 30 January 2005;

*note: the Contributions List will be available once updated to reflect the Revised Budget).

Appeal history:

- Launched on 22 November 2004 for CHF 517,246 (USD 430,859) for three months to assist 4,000 of the most vulnerable households (20,000 people).

- The budget has been revised to CHF 1,200,187 (USD 999,740) to accommodate the needs of recent massive earthquake affected population in Nabire (Papua) with the programme extending by nine months completing at 22 November 2005. The final report is now due on 22 February 2006.

- Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) allocated: CHF 100,000.

Outstanding needs: CHF 838,115 (USD 698,139)

Related Emergency or Annual Appeals: Annual Appeal (01.64/2004)

Operational Summary: Following an assessment and to address the emergency needs of the most vulnerable 4,000 households (20,000 people) in nine sub-districts of Alor island, East Nusa Tenggara province- affected by a massive earthquake on 12 November 2004, measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale; an international appeal was launched on the 22 November 2004 as requested by the Indonesian Red Cross (Palang Merah Indonesia/PMI). With funds from DREF and continuous donor support, the Alor relief operation has begun as planned meeting the emergency needs of people affected by the deadly earthquake. While the emergency response was ongoing in Alor island, another massive earthquake, measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale jolted Indonesia on 26 November. This time, the epicentre was located 17 km south of Nabire, West Papua province. Tremors of varying intensities were also felt in the towns of Sorong, Manokwari, Biak and Timika, all within a 200 km radius of the epicentre. According to the local government, apart from causing the deaths of 32 people and injuring hundreds of others, the powerful quake also cost some IDR 500 billion (USD 55 million) in material losses to Nabire. Following a rapid assessment of Nabire; and a detailed assessment in Alor island - the emergency appeal budget has been revised to accommodate short and long-term needs of the 93,600 most vulnerable households (468,000 people) in Nabire and Alor island for a 12-month period.

Background

Following the earthquake in Alor (7.3 on the Richter scale) on 12 November, Indonesia was again struck by another massive earthquake on 26 November 2004. The United States Geological Survey recorded the magnitude of this event at 7.2 on the Richter Scale; locally the Indonesian Geophysics Meteorology Agency (BMG) recorded 6.4. The epicentre of this second quake was 17 km south of Nabire. Tremors of varying intensities were also felt in the towns of Sorong, Manokwari, Biak and Timika, all within a 200 km radius of the epicentre.

By 6 December the death toll had reached 32 in Nabire. A total of 33 people were badly injured during the quake and another 180 suffered minor injuries. Physical damage is reported to be extensive in Nabire. According to a report from the local District Coordinating Unit for the Management of Disaster and Internally Displaced Persons or IDPs/Refugees (Satlak PB) in Nabire, 766 houses burned down, 245 collapsed, 965 sustained heavy damage and 548 showed minor damage. Of religious buildings affected, 12 collapsed, another 114 are badly damaged, and 38 have sustained minor damage. Some 49 schools sustained serious damage and another 93 show minor damage. Seventeen office buildings suffered heavy damage, and another 34 lighter damage. The earthquake also severely damaged 110km of the main road including 3 bridges/culverts with less severe damage to a further 10 km road and 30 bridges/culverts. Structural damaged to airport, wharf, hospital, power and communication lines, water distribution networks and fuel storage has also been reported.

Continuous aftershocks followed by occasional sharp ones (approximate ly 2,000 tremors have been recorded until 7 December by the Indonesian Geophysics Meteorology Agency (BMG/Nabire); 3 -- 5 on the Modified Mercalli Intensity - MMI scale ) have left residents fearing for their safety seeking shelter under tarpaulins in their yards or in open public spaces. Large numbers of the population are traumatised and are fearful of moving back into their homes as local government authorities expressed their concern at the possibility of further earthquakes and aftershocks for the next 10 days to two weeks. As of 8 December, 10,000 people have sought temporary shelter in neighbouring provinces. After the quake the local hospital -- inpatient department, lab, operating theatre -- is being run inside tents and under tarpaulins in the open. There is no contingency plan, early warning or alert system in Nabire and the quake has highlighted a lack of risk reduction measures at all levels (government to community).

For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:

- In Indonesia: Irman Rachman, Head of DM Division, PMI; phone: +62 21 799 2325; fax: +62 21 799 5188; email: disaster@palangmerah.org; Latifur Rahman, DM Delegate, Federation Delegation Indonesia; phone: +62 21 7919 1841, fax: +62 21 7918 0905, email: ifrcid05@ifrc.org

- In Bangkok: Dr. Ian Wilderspin, Head of Disaster Risk Management Unit: phone +662 640 8211; fax: +662 661 8220; emai: ifrcth22@ifrc.org

- In Geneva: Southeast Asia Desk, Charles Evans/Sabine Feuglet, Federation Secretariat, Geneva; phone:+ 41 22 730 4320; fax:+ 41 22 733 0395; email: charles.evans@ifrc.org or sabine.feuglet@ifrc.org

All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for a full description of the national society profile, please access the Federation's website at http://www.ifrc.org

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