Indonesia: United Nations establishes coordination center in Yogyakarta

(Geneva: 29 May 2006): The United Nations has established today a main coordination center at Yogyakarta and a reception cell at the Airport to support coordination efforts and relief activities in response to the earthquake that hit Yogyakarta and Central Java on 27 May 2006.

A five member United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination Team (UNDACT) arrived today.

According to the United Nations team in Yogyakarta, the most urgent needs, to be delivered within 3 days, are: 3 field hospitals with a capacity of 100 beds each; medical supplies, mostly for orthopedic treatment; generators; tents and shelter items. The International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) has some 10,000 tents available but more will be needed. There are indications that these tents could be mobilized within the country or in the region.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has released an emergency cash grant of USD 100,000 to meet the most urgent needs of the survivors.

Measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale, the earthquake killed over 4,983 people and injured over 20,000 persons according to the Government. Up to 25,000 houses are reported damaged, 4,000 of which are completely destroyed, and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) estimates that 100,000 people may be homeless. People in the affected areas are living in temporary shelters established nearby their houses fearing after shocks and hence tarpaulin, tents, plastic sheets are urgently needed. Ten camps have been established in Bantul district to provide shelters to the victims.

The Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) have mobilized 1,000 personnel and will provide heavy equipment, tents, medical equipment and supplies. The Government has stressed the urgent need for additional field hospitals and medical staff to deal with the wounded.

The first UN-NGO coordination meeting was held in Bantul on 27 May, and a joint inter-agency assessment team arrived yesterday in the affected areas to conduct a rapid needs assessment mission. Led by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the team comprises representatives from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), CARE and OCHA. Leaving from Banda Aceh, a UN Humanitarian Air Service flight arrived yesterday in Solo, the closest airport, with medical teams and two tonnes of medical supplies from NGOs.

Heavy rains late on Sunday made conditions worse for those left homeless by the earthquake, which was followed by 450 aftershocks.

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; Kristen Knutson, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 9262; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570. OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.