United Nations assists flood-stricken Indonesia

(Jakarta: 9 February 2007): The Acting United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator, Margareta Wahlström, has decided to make available up to $2 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for urgent humanitarian relief in Indonesia, in the wake of the severe flooding that has affected the capital of Jakarta and surrounding areas.

At least 512,000 people have been displaced by the flooding, according to the latest figures released by the National Coordination Board for Disaster Management (BAKORNAS PB). This represents a significant increase over previous reports. In total, 24 of 43 sub-districts of Jakarta province continue to be affected by the floods. At least 50 people are confirmed dead. Many areas of Greater Jakarta are still being assessed. Heavy rains continue to be expected in Greater Jakarta and Cianjur Districts of West Java.

Across the city, people have dumped wrecked furniture, electronics and clothes onto the side of roads. According to the Jakarta Waste Management Office, waste from flood-affected areas has been piled up to 3,915 cubic meters since the beginning of the month. Two hundred fifty-four trucks and 508 personnel have been mobilized in the cleaning effort.

Although the Government is encouraging displaced people to move into one of the six temporary shelters that are equipped with health posts, public kitchens and sanitation facilities, many of the displaced prefer to stay in alternative shelters close to their homes, to ensure the security of their possessions. The Government is providing food and non-food assistance to those in need. As a number of people remain stranded in their homes, while food, water and hygiene are mounting problems, the Provincial Coordinating Unit for the Management of Disasters continues to lead evacuation efforts.

Many countries and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are providing assistance to Indonesia, including Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The European Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) has committed €600,000 to NGOs, including Action Contre la Faim, CARE, World Vision and Médecins du Monde-France. The United States, through the Agency for International Development (USAID)/Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA), will provide $100,000 in emergency relief assistance through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and its partners.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands has announced a donation of €1 million for emergency relief, half of which will be channelled through the Dutch Red Cross and its Indonesian counterpart for boats, food, water, medicine, clothing and blankets. The other half will be used by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the further purchase of boats. Saudi Arabia has provided $250,000 in support to the Government's response effort. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swiss Red Cross (SRC) have donated CHF 60,000 ($48,000) for drinking water and medicine. Malaysia has provided a wide range of food and non-food items, and Canada has approved CAD $100,000 for emergency supplies to victims through two local non-governmental organizations, as well as hygiene kits through the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI).

The World Health Organization (WHO), through the Indonesian Ministry of Health (MoH), has provided emergency kits and rubber boats to assist temporary health posts. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has provided $25,000 to the Government of Indonesia. Emergency supplies valued at more than $150,000 from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) include water bladders to supply 240,000 people with clean water, as well as jerry cans, bottles of water purification liquid, water purification tablets, and hygiene kits designed for a family of five. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has allocated $96,000 for hygiene kits that will be distributed through the Health Department's Crisis Management Centre.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has been identified by the Government of Indonesia to serve as the main interlocutor with the international community through establishment of a Liaison Desk in the Operations Centre of the National Coordinating Board for Disaster Management. According to Government officials, there remain immediate demands for food, clothes, blankets, medicines, sanitation facilities, tools, rubber boats, trucks, inner tubes, flashlights, lanterns, water tanks and search-and-rescue (SAR) teams. Cleaning kits are also now a priority in the effort to recover from the ravages of the floods.

"The timely availability of CERF support greatly facilitates the United Nations current humanitarian response in the Jakarta area," commented Bo Asplund, United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Indonesia. "These funds will help significantly boost the provision of immediate and ongoing assistance to Indonesia by the international community."

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.