Asia and the Pacific: Weekly Regional Humanitarian Snapshot (16 - 22 December 2014)

INDONESIA

• After a full week of search and rescue, operations for the landslide in Banjarnegara District, Central Java have ceased. In total, 95 people were killed and 13 are still missing. Approximately 2,000 people are still displaced. The Government and NGOs are providing assistance.

95 deaths 2,000 people displaced

• On 18 and 20 Dec Mount Gamalama erupted spewing volcanic ash 1,000 meters into the sky. No immediate reports of damage has been reported.

• On 21 Dec, A 6.6M earthquake struck in the Molucca Sea, approximately 157kms WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia at 19h30 local time. There have been no reports of injuries or damage.

BANGLADESH

Clean up operations continue on the oil spill in the Sundarbans, with the Government engaging over 200 people in nearly 100 boats to collect oil spilled from the tanker. It has been reported that approximately 86,000 out of a total 357,000 litres has spilled. The UN, through the Joint United Nations Sundarban Oil Spill Response mission, is working with national and international experts in conducting assessments of the spill and developing an action plan for continued response efforts.

THAILAND

Since 14 Dec, seven provinces in the south have been affected by floods and landslides. Seven people died and three were injured. Nearly 170 schools are closed and nearly 2,400 people were evacuated. The governmnet has distributed water, food, medicine, and survival kits to the affected communities. As of 22 Dec four provinces continue to be affected by flooding.

7 deaths 2,400 people evacuated

MALAYSIA

Heavy rainfall in parts of Peninsular Malaysia on 16-18 Dec, caused flooding in Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu states. Nearly 6,000 people in these states have been evacuated.

6,000 people evacuated

JAPAN

Heavy snowfall is affecting several areas of Japan, in particular the northern part of the island of Hokkaido. According to media at least three people died. The severe weather caused also traffic distruption, with approx. 100 domestic flights canceled.

As of 18 Dec, warnings for Snow Storms were still in effect for north-eastern Hokkaido and parts of central-northern Honshu.