FROM THE OFFSHORE PLATFORM - USS ABRAHAM
LINCOLN (CVN 72)
Reporting Period 22:00hrs January 18, 2005 - 22:00hrs January 19, 2005
MISSION UPDATES
The inter-agency rapid health assessment team accompanied by officials from TNI, MoH and the US Marine Corps conducted its sixth and final day of assessments along the west coast of Aceh, deploying two teams by helicopter to two different areas.
This will be the last daily situation report from the offshore inter-agency shsummarizing the overall findings of this mission, to be distributed in the next 24 hours.
The team wishes to thank the commanders, officers and crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln for their gracious hospitality and constant cooperation in helping us get this job done, and for their frequent and very thoughtful inputs during the course of this mission.
SITUATION ASSESSMENT BY TEAM & LOCATION
Team #2
Location: Pante Kuyuen (N.04.46.190, E.095.34.891)
Sub-district: Setiabakti
District: Aceh Jaya
Highlights
IDPs in Pante Kuyuen wish to settle with relatives but require assistance to do so.
Pante Kuyuen is made up of three villages: Sapek, Gle Subak and Gampong Baro. IDPs come from the following areas: Lageun, Riga, Jabee, Lhok Buya, Gampong Baro Sayenne, Patek, Kuala Mersi, Baba Nippah and Kruong Sabe.
Most of the IDPs we spoke with said they did not want to return to their villages but instead preferred to stay in Pante Kuyuen. The IDPs came to this area because most had relatives in these villages.
Coordination: People from the coastal towns of Meulaboh, Lagen, Kreung Sae, Kuala Mersi, Patek, and Calang have relocated inland and are being hosted by families in the villages. The village chief of Pante Kuyuen, the leader of the IDPs, and the TNI, jointly coordinate reception and distribution of food and non-food items.
Assessments: MSF conducted a one-day assessment on January 18 in the neighboring village of Gle Subah, which has population of 200 plus 79 IDPs. MSF evacuated 3 people to with chronic wounds to Banda Aceh.
PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES
Population Size and Structure: Pante Kuyuen has a host population of about 875 and currently 156 IDPs. This area was not directly affected by the tsunami, however most of their economic routes have been damages. The IDP leader presented the team with updated population figures, which listed 65 IDP families at the location. The chief estimated that 60% of the IDPs are men and 40% women. 109 families in Pante Kuyuen are hosting IDPs; There are 15 unaccompanied minors, all of whom are being taken care of by the host community. There are 30 widows, 35 children without mothers, and 17 children without fathers.
Main diseases and conditions: Overall the population seemed in reasonable condition. As there are no health services, there was no surveillance information. Community members and IDPs said that respiratory infection was the main illness. The bottled water supply is used by TNI while the local population gets its drinking water from turbid wells and the river. People reported boiling their drinking water, but since water is taken from the same river into which others defecate, it remains a concern if not boiled sufficiently.
There are currently 12 pregnant women in the community. 12 births (and no resulting deaths) have taken place since January 1.
Current mortality: Among the IDP population two deaths reportedly occurred since the January 1: A 52-year-old female, cause reported as diabetes; and a male, aged 75, cause reported as asthma.
Energy Resources/Supply: Electricity is no longer available in this village. People use small kerosene lamps at night but the supply of kerosene is being depleted.
Health facilities: The health facility in this village closed 3 years ago for security reasons. The closest facility on the coast was destroyed. About 12 TNI troops are present in the area but do not provide health services. IDPs said that when they first arrived there were two pharmacies, but both are now closed due to lack of supplies. Two traditional birth attendants remain in the village, but the team was unable to visit them due to a supposed security problem 1km from the landing zone. The IDPs and the village host community both expressed the need for basic health services at the vilage.
The measles vaccination campaign has not taken place in this location.
Water supply: People here generally drink water from the Pante Kuyuen river, but some villagers use hand-dug wells. There is a lot of wastewater around the well, which will encourage mosquito breeding. As a considerable portion of the village population relies on drinking water from the wells, mass disinfections of existing wells should be the first sanitary priority for the entire village. The promotion and supply of disinfecting agents are urgently needed to protect people from water- related diseases. Bottled water is being delivered by helicopter to this location, but it is generally kept for TNI use and not available to the general population.
Sanitation and hygiene: Residents generally defecate on the riverbank or in the river from a wooden platform. No soap is available in the village so attempts to promote hand washing after defecation must be supported by the provision of soap to the IDP and host population. There is a serious lack of jerry cans for water collection and storage. Most of the IDPs do not use mosquito nets while sleeping.
Malnutrition: No moderate or severe malnutrition was observed.
Food security: Farmers in this area plant and harvest twice a year. They complement their diet with a wide variety of vegetables, including wild ones. People also fish, although it is not a consistent livelihood source. They still expect to harvest in June and plant in July; but they said they have been forced to consume the grains they were keeping for seeds.
A majority of IDPs who moved here are also farmers. Nearly all expressed the desire to remain in Pante Kuyuen. A number of them have already acquired land that they will harvest in July if they can obtain seeds. They were given the land by their relatives; those who haven't secured land of their own said they would work other people's farms if needed.
Food security remains very fragile in this community. Support for an improved agricultural yield will help prevent serious economic deterioration in the coming months.
Food is delivered in by helicopter by the US military, including MREs, chocolate milk and rice.
Shelter: Currently all IDPs are living among the host population. A number of people were living with relatives. None want to return to their original villages, but they need assistance in constructing new dwellings.
Roads and bridges: Roads and bridges between Pante Keyuen and other market centers and the coast have been severely damaged, cutting these inland villages off. Roads within and between some villages remain intact. Some coastal areas are still accessible by motorcycle, but petrol stocks are limited.
Schools: People from the community and IDP women said there are 7 teachers in the village and the primary school will start on January 26 for children from both the host and IDP communities.
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