MGEAP1: WEST SUMATRA EARTHQUAKE - SITREP 5

UNCLAS JAKARTA 001671 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP MARCIEL, CA, USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA KLUU, ACONVERY, AND RTHAYER, ANE FOR KROSEN, BANGKOK FOR ADWYER, NSC FOR PMARCHAM, GENEVA FOR NKYLOH, PACOM POLAD/J3/J5 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR ASEC PGOV CASC MARR ECON PREL PINR AMGT EAID AQ, ID, LA, RP, TN, VM, WS SUBJECT: MGEAP1: WEST SUMATRA EARTHQUAKE - SITREP 5 Reftel: Jakarta 01654 and previous. 1.(U) The following information is current as of Monday, October 5, 1500 hours, local time. CONDITIONS ON THE GROUND 2.(U) As a result of heavy rains, the GOI had to stop activities in Padang for three hours this morning. The GOI is aware of the dire need to get into the surrounding areas, but landslides have made it nearly impossible to get assistance teams there. Electricity has been restored to approximately 20 percent of Padang, and the power company expects to have it fully restored by week's end. Area hospitals are beginning to receive supplies but patients continue to sleep in tents because the buildings are severely damaged. Sixty-five percent of the mobile phone network has been restored. The area near the port remained relatively undamaged so food stalls, small restaurants and local markets in that area are open. The central market remains closed and there are reports of rapidly rising food prices. DEATHS AND INJURIES 3.(U) In line with SAR teams' expectations, the most recent official figures for dead and injured has increased from reftel report. As the rescue effort widens to include the outlying areas, these numbers will rise possibly into the thousands. 608 people are listed as dead; 897 as lightly injured; 596 as seriously injured; and 343 as missing. CONSULAR MATTERS 4.(U) Jakarta/CONS has accounted for all registered Americans presumed to have been in the earthquake zone. We made contact via telephone, SMS, email and walkabout to Amcits' registered residences, and hospitals, hotels and morgues in Padang. We communicated with known addresses of Amcits' interested parties who are outside the Padang area, including in the United States. Based on our on-site evaluation and the lack of relevant communications with interested parties, we continue to believe that no/no Americans are in physical distress, killed or injured, or remain in harm's way as a result of the earthquake. Conoff in Padang tracked down and spoke with the manager of the collapsed Ambacang Hotel, and reviewed its guest register. Most of the casualties are Indonesian; none were registered as U.S. passport holders. We are closing the loop on a few inquiries of Amcits who we understand are out of the area. Jakarta's remaining Conoff in Padang returns to Jakarta on 6 Oct, and Medan officers TDY in Padang will take over Amcit issues, if any arise. Jakarta/CONS will add to future sitreps only if a CONS issue arises. USG ASSISTANCE - USAID 5.(U) We continue to work with the Indonesian authorities, civilian and military, to ensure that our assistance addresses the needs that the GOI has identified as quickly and efficiently as possible. An 11-person DART team arrived in Jakarta on Sunday, October 3 and six of its members have arrived in Padang. Also on October 3, USAID provided Mercy Corps International with a USD300,000 grant. As reported reftel, Mercy Corps will focus on providing shelter, water materials and medical supplies. On Tuesday, October 6, a flight of USAID/OFDA relief commodities from Dubai, including hygiene kits, power generators, water containers, and plastic sheeting is scheduled to arrive in Padang. Additional details will be provided by DART Info Officer, Diedra Spencer septel. USG ASSISTANCE - DOD 6.(U) The Secretary of Defense authorized $7 million for relief operations in Indonesia. The morning of October 3 Admiral Landholt and other members of the HAST team arrived in Jakarta and then traveled to Padang in the afternoon. The Admiral met with PO Stan Harsha and GOI officials to arrange for the delivery and set up of the field hospital, as well as to discuss other assistance. The USS McCampbell and the USNS Richard E. Byrd will join the USS Denver in logistics support operations. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is airlifting a Humanitarian Assistance Rapid Response Team (HARRT) to Padang, with a scheduled arrival date of October 5. The HARRT will provide medical treatment for between 200 and 250 patients per day. 7.(U) NGOs are aware of our C-130 flights between Jakarta and Padang and have sought our assistance in delivering badly needed materials. For instance, HOPE will send locally purchased medicines and shelter to its mobile medical team which is working in the Pariaman district (outside of Padang). 8.(SBU) Hatta Rajsa, State Secretary of the United Indonesia Cabinet, expressed gratitude for a U.S. military field hospital and the USS Denver's airlift support. He said imagery from P-3 flights would help the government's damage assessment and inquired about heavy equipment for excavation and well drilling. Helicopter airlift capacity will get humanitarian assistance and maybe heavy equipment to hard to access areas. INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE 9.(U) The UNOCHA is acting as the lead coordinator of international aid. OCHA is conducting assessment of requirements with its network of NGOs and GOI. Preliminary results are expected Tuesday, October ¶6. We have confirmed reports of the following governments/NGOs having provided assistance and/or funds: JICA (Japan) medical aid and rescue team; AusAid Australia search and rescue team; Insarac (Swiss) medical aid and rescue team; Turkey humanitarian aid; Church World Services; European Commission; Malaysia; UNDP; Hope Indonesia and IOM. We have unconfirmed reports that there are 72 international NGOs working in the area. PUBLIC AFFAIRS 10.(U) Charge Osius and RDML Landolt will travel to Padang tomorrow to welcome the OFDA plane and to see the set up of the mobile hospital, as well as support and thank our team. The Indonesian press, print and television, continues to report on President Obama's phone call to President Yudhoyono. U.S. offers of assistance have been widely reported. A popular newspaper, Rakyat Merdeka, included CG Medan and USAID in its list of volunteers actually on the ground in Padang. EMBASSY JAKARTA MISSION DISASTER RELIEF OFFICER ¶11. Mission Disaster Relief Officer is Alfred Nakatsuma. He can be reached at anakatsuma@usaid.gov. or by phone: (office) 62-21-3435-9434 or (cell) 62-8129178395. Osius#