United Nations assessing flood damage in Indonesia

(New York, 24 February 2006): The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator's Office in Jakarta is deploying a mission to assess the situation on the ground in Sulawesi in collaboration with Government and non-governmental institutions. The mission comes in response to flash flooding and landslides on 21 February in Manado City. These events followed the floods and landslides that hit Manado City--the capital city of North Sulawesi Province--, Minahasa Selatan, Minahasa, and Tomohon City on 13 February that left eight dead and resulted in the displacement of 1,286 people. The assessment will focus on more accurately determining the actual size of the displaced population and their short and medium-term needs.
The Provincial Coordinating Unit for the Management of Disaster reports 33 deaths, 6 missing, and 39 injured, of whom 16 are in critical condition. As of today the floodwaters have completely receded and the affected population has started to return to their homes. As a result the actual number of displaced people will be lower than the initial Indonesian Red Cross estimate of 17,500 people. The remaining displaced persons are scattered in various public buildings, temporary tents provided by local authorities, as well as the houses of their neighbours and families in safer areas. The dispersion of the displaced population has made it difficult to obtain firm information on the number of displaced.

It was also reported that 2,067 houses, 1,115 hectares of agricultural area and 11 hectares of plantation area were damaged and 9,773 head of livestock lost. Schools, bridges, irrigation dams, churches and mosques also sustained damage.

The Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare has allocated Rp.70 million and the Minister of Social Affairs has provided funds totalling Rp.500 million for relief operations. The Department of Social Affairs has standby stocks of emergency relief items. The Office of Public Works has initiated the clearance of mud and debris from roads and the rebuilding of damaged bridges which has improved the transportation of emergency relief to the affected areas. Local government, with the assistance of NGOs and donations from the private sector, has provided adequate emergency assistance. Upcoming assessments will seek to determine the displaced population's needs for transitional assistance and assistance in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of their homes. Assessments to determine unmet requirements and priority needs are ongoing. At present, there is no indication that international assistance will be required.

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.