INDONESIA EARTHQUAKE HUMANITARIAN UPDATE #7: USAID/DART

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 JAKARTA 001726 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP, CA STATE FOR USAID USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA CCHAN, ACONVERY, RTHAYER, AND RMT USAID FOR ANE KROSEN BANGKOK FOR ADWYER NSC FOR CPRATT USUN FOR DMERCADO GENEVA FOR NKYLOH PACOM POLAD/J3/J5 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV CASC ECON EAID SENV ID PHUM AEMR ASEC CASC MARR, PREL, PINR, AMGT, EAID, AQ, LA, RP, TN, VM, WS SUBJECT: INDONESIA EARTHQUAKE HUMANITARIAN UPDATE #7: USAID/DART ASSESSES MENTAWAI ISLANDS AND DOD REDEPLOYS FORCES REF: JAKARTA 01715 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. The USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) continues to assess emergency shelter needs, in light of recent reports that the September 30 earthquake damaged more than 265,000 houses and destroyed the majority of brick kilns that serve affected areas. Following an assessment in the Mentawai Islands, the USAID/DART reports that areas assessed sustained little damage, and short-term food insecurity has been resolved. The USAID/DART has concluded aerial assessments of landslides caused by the earthquake and is sharing GPS coordinates of affected areas with the humanitarian community. In close coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta and the USAID/DART, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has determined that the demand for air transportation of relief commodities has decreased and is concluding its response to the earthquake. End summary. -------------- Shelter and Settlements -------------- ¶2. The USAID/DART continues to assess emergency shelter needs and work with other members of the humanitarian community and implementing partners to help meet such needs. As of October 13, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Government of Indonesia (GoI) National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that the earthquake had damaged more than 265,000 houses, including more than 135,000 houses severely damaged or destroyed. As noted in the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP), early shelter assessments indicated that more than 70,000 households have unmet needs for emergency shelter assistance. ¶3. Participants in the October 13 Shelter Cluster meeting in Padang reported that the emergency phase, as defined by the GoI, may be shortened from one month to a lesser period. At the end of the emergency phase, the GoI will begin tabulating the total number of damaged houses for the planned GoI compensation plan. While details are not yet finalized, the GoI will likely provide cash assistance to families whose houses were damaged or destroyed. The USAID/DART hopes that a GoI compensation program will build upon lessons learned from a similar program implemented by the GoI after the May 2006 earthquake in Java. ¶4. Most houses in earthquake-affected areas are constructed of brick or stone. The brick producer that provided 60 percent of the bricks for markets in earthquake-affected areas lost all of the kilns in the earthquake and is at present unable to produce bricks. Smaller brick producers that produce lower-quality bricks, however, continue to operate. As reported reftel, a shortage in the supply of bricks could cause the price of bricks to increase and/or households to use lower-quality bricks for rebuilding damaged or destroyed houses. Oxfam is conducting a market survey of the brick market, according to Oxfam representatives at the recent Shelter Cluster meeting. The USAID/DART, including the shelter and settlements specialist scheduled to arrive in country on October 16, is closely following this issue. -------------- USAID/DART Activities -------------- -- Assessment of Mentawai Islands -- ¶5. On October 13, the USAID/DART field officer assessed humanitarian conditions in the Mentawai Islands, located off the coast of Sumatra southwest of Padang. Prior to conducting the assessment, conditions were unknown in the absence of formal assessments. Given the islands' proximity to the epicenter of the JAKARTA 00001726 002 OF 003 earthquake, the USAID/DART was concerned that the islands might have sustained considerable damage. ¶6. The USAID/DART field officer accompanied the non-governmental organization (NGO) SurfAid to Muara Siberut, located in Siberut Selatan Sub-District on the southeastern part of Siberut Island. In this town of 7,200, the team met with the camat (sub-district head) to discuss current needs. The camat reported that the most pressing need was for school tents to replace the damaged schools. The field officer reported this need to the Education Cluster, which is following up. The USAID/DART field officer observed very little noticeable infrastructure damage, as most houses remain intact. Water points are operational, and irrigation canals continue to function. ¶7. Immediately following the earthquake, food security issues arose, as the ferry service that ran between Padang and the Mentawai islands was interrupted. Most families on the island grow a portion of their food but also rely on market purchases to make up the shortfall. The ferry service interruption resulted in temporary food insecurity due to lack of available food. However, the camat reported that the ferry service had resumed and that food was now available for purchase on area markets. Market inspection confirmed this statement. The program officer spoke with families who confirmed being able to purchase food in the market and reported that the price had not significantly increased. Thus, localized food insecurity was a temporary issue which was addressed through the resumption of the ferry service. ¶8. Part of Siberut Island lies in closer proximity to the epicenter of the September 30 quake than does Muara Siberut, which the USAID/DART assessed. The USAID/DART has received preliminary reports that the northeastern part of the island sustained more damage the Muara Siberut. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is currently conducting assessments in northeastern Siberut. The USAID/DART will continue to monitor the situation. -- Aerial Assessments of Landslides -- ¶9. On October 14, the USAID/DART finished conducting aerial assessments of landslides caused by the earthquake. The USAID/DART collected GPS coordinates and photos of each landslide; this information will be used in a comprehensive map of landslides caused by the September 30 quake. The USAID/DART will also share this information with the GoI and the humanitarian clusters. -- Visit of Emergency Relief Coordinator -- ¶10. From October 13 to 15, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes is visiting earthquake-affected areas of West Sumatra Province. On October 14, the USAID/DART attended a meeting of humanitarian relief agencies in Padang, conducted by the Emergency Relief Coordinator. At the request of the Indonesian Military (TNI),the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is providing helicopter support for the Emergency Relief Coordinator's visit. -- USAID/OFDA Programming and Planning -- ¶11. As of October 13, USAID/OFDA and the USAID/DART had programmed more than $4.8 million in humanitarian assistance in response to the earthquake. Funding is supporting mobile medical clinics for 90 days; the procurement and distribution of emergency relief supplies, including household relief items and tools; programs to address water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs; and additional shelter and WASH programs implemented by a consortium of NGOs. -------------- DoD Response to Earthquake -------------- ¶12. In close coordination with the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta and the JAKARTA 00001726 003 OF 003 USAID/DART, DoD has determined that the demand for air transportation of relief commodities has decreased as outlying areas have become more accessible. Consequently, DoD is completing its response to the earthquake and has begun to redeploy forces. The U.S.S. McCampbell departed from Indonesian waters on October 13, and the U.S.S. Denver, U.S.N.S. Byrd, and the C-130 cargo plane are scheduled to depart on October 14. ¶13. As of October 13, DoD fixed and rotary wing aircraft had transported 891 passengers and 380,500 pounds of cargo. On October 13, the Humanitarian Assistance Rapid Response Team (HARRT) treated 281 patients. The HARRT remained open through 1200 hours local time on October 14, at which point DoD began preparations to redeploy the mobile medical unit on October 16. The USAID/DART is assisting DoD to consign medical supplies from the HARRT to organizations that are able to utilize these supplies. Osius#