Indonesia: Earthquake Situation Report No. 15

This report was issued by OCHA New York, with inputs from OCHA Indonesia. It covers the period from 13 October 2009 to 15 October 2009. The next report will be issued on or around 19 October 2009.

I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

- Logistic constraints remain a major challenge in providing emergency items such as shelter supplies to remote areas.

- The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) report 198,200 households need emergency shelter.

- Operational agencies are concerned about the implications of the pending decision by the Government to end the relief phase by the end of October. Clusters are concerned this could hamper ongoing relief operations.

- The UNDAC team has ended its deployment in Padang.

- USG/ERC Mr. John Holmes has announced US$ 7 million as part of CERF for Indonesia.

II. Situation Overview

The Government has revised the official number of dead to 1,117 as this now includes the numbers of missing people that have not been found since the 30 September earthquake that wreaked havoc to West Sumatra. Figures for remote areas will not be verified until 20 October. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) is reporting that 198,200 households are in need of emergency shelter.

Lack of access to remote areas remains the major obstacle to providing urgent humanitarian assistance in this phase of emergency response but the Indonesian Military (TNI) has agreed to deploy 500 soldiers to build new roads or create new access routes to these affected areas. Furthermore, Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI)/International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies plans to deploy to Sumatra in the coming days four helicopters that will assist in distributing food to remote areas which remain inaccessible due do damaged road infrastructure.

BNPB is requesting some diversion of emergency relief to the neighbouring disaster affected area of Jambi Province, which until now has not received international assistance. An initial assessment by BNPB found there are 474 heavily damaged houses, 849 slightly damaged houses, 11 damaged schools and 2 damaged health facilities in Kerinci District, while in Merangin District, 99 houses are heavily damaged, 25 houses are slightly damaged and 123 schools are damaged. The Government has provided US$137,000 but an unverified damage and loss assessment concluded the earthquake has cost an estimated $6.6 million.