United Nations ready to assist flood-stricken Indonesia

(New York: 5 February 2007): The United Nations agencies stand ready to support the Government of Indonesia in response to the severe flooding that has affected the capital of Jakarta and surrounding areas in recent days.

According to the last Government figures, hundreds of thousands have been affected, with some 147,592 people displaced and more than 73,000 homes flooded across north-western Java island, including in 26 of 43 sub-districts of Jakarta province, as well as 11 sub-districts in West Java's Bekasi district and seven sub-districts in Tangerang districts of Banten province. In some areas, water levels as high as two metres have been reported.

Over the weekend, Jakarta was reportedly paralyzed by the flooding, which forced the State-owned power company to shut down some plants in the capital and in Tangerang. The flooding also disrupted the distribution of fuel and basic commodities, and submerged parts of the communications and transportation infrastructure. The supply of clean water has been cut off in many of the affected areas, raising fears that water-borne diseases could spread due to contaminated water supplies.

The Government and affected communities continue to work to evacuate those stranded in flooded areas. Emergency relief supplies, including food, drinking water, tents, sanitation facilities, and public kitchens have been provided. The National Coordinating Board for the Management of Disasters (BAKORNAS PB) has also made four helicopters available to distribute relief items to locations where the displaced have gathered. Reportedly, 80 per cent of those in need in Central Jakarta, 40 per cent in South Jakarta, and 50 per cent in East, West and North Jakarta respectively, have received assistance.

Thus far, several countries and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have provided or offered assistance to Indonesia, including the United States, Australia, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The United Nations agencies, including the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPAS), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organization (WHO), as well as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are ready to provide assistance as requested. The Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator in Jakarta has been identified by the Government as the primary interlocutor for the international community.

To date, no request for international assistance has been issued by the Government. However, immediate needs for food (including rice, baby food, ready-to-eat food and drinking water), clothes, blankets, medicines, sanitation facilities, tools, rubber boats, trucks, inner tubes, flashlights, lanterns, water tanks and search-and-rescue (SAR) teams have been identified.

The flooding has been prompted by heavy rainfalls since 31 January. Further heavy rainfalls are expected to continue in the coming days, affecting areas of Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi districts.

"Given the large numbers of people affected, the United Nations and its partners continue to monitor this situation in close partnership with the Government, which is doing everything in its power to assist those in need," affirmed Margareta Wahlström, Acting United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator.