Situation report: 15 May 2006

This Bulletin (03/2006) is being issued for information only, and reflects the status of the situation and information available at present. The Federation is not seeking funding or other assistance from donors for this operation at this time.

Situation

The state of alertness for Indonesia's most active volcano, Mt. Merapi, has been raised to the highest possible level. The Indonesian government's Directorate of Vulcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation made the announcement at the weekend after weeks of heightened volcanic and seismic activity at the site, in Central Java, Indonesia. Soon after, the Research and Technology Development Agency for Vulcanology in Yogyakarta reported 18 multi-phase tremors, 66 rock falls, and 23 heat clouds (pyroclastic flows) reaching 2km into the upper course of southern and southwestern rivers (Krasak and Boyong rivers). However, none of the nearby settlements have been affected.

Since 12 April, when the level of alertness was raised to the second highest possible, the Indonesian government has been mobilizing at the district and national level. It has identified access and exit routes and emergency teams and transportation are on standby. The government has released emergency funds for immediate use and has large quantities of food and relief items ready for distribution. Relevant government departments in the areas of shelter, food, health and water and sanitation are active.

The Provincial Disaster Management Coordination Unit (SATKORLAK) and the District Executing Unit for Management and Coordination (SATLAK PB) have been chairing periodic government meetings at provincial and district levels. The central government has allocated IDR 5 billion (approximately USD 575,000) for Sleman district, Yogyakarta province, and IDR 15 billion (approximately USD 1,725,000) for Boyolali, Magelang, and Klaten districts, Central Java province, in support of relief operations.

The current level of alertness means that every resident has been ordered to evacuate and prepare for possible eruption within hours. However, according to field reports of the Indonesian Red Cross (Palang Merah Indonesia, or PMI) on Saturday 13 May, only 8,230 people have evacuated from the most high-risk zones (1,614 in Magelang, 52 in Boyolali, 2,412 in Klaten and 4,152 in Sleman districts). The government had earlier anticipated that up to 80,000 people may be displaced by the impending eruption.

Red Cross and Red Crescent action

PMI has over 200 volunteers engaged in all four districts (Sleman, Magelang, Klaten and Boyolali) to support the evacuation with transportation and ambulance teams. In Magelang, the local government has given PMI two sites for internally displaced people (IDP) capable of holding 5,000 people. These sites will support IDPs with shelter, water and sanitation, health, food, and psycho-social support. Over 500 family tents are being installed in Magelang. One 8,000-litre water truck and two 5,000-litre water bladders are on the way from Klaten for the two IDP camps. A water and sanitation team (one PMI-trained field officer plus support staff and Federation delegate) is on the way to Bandung and Jakarta with accompanying equipment. In the other three districts (Sleman, Klaten, and Boyolali), in parallel with the evacuation, PMI volunteers are providing field kitchen services, mobile health clinics, hygiene kits, sleeping mats, plastic sheeting, and blankets to new IDP arrivals, as well as coordinating with other organizations and monitoring of volcanic situation.

With the support of the Federation and USAID, 3,000 blankets are being transported from PMI's national headquarters. Additionally, 10,000 tarpaulins, 5,000 hygiene kits and 5,000 baby kits are being transferred from the Medan logistics hub to the Surabaya central warehouse.

To strengthen the operational response, the Federation has sent a relief/logistics delegate to join the PMI local team. The first joint UN/Red Cross assessment process is set for tomorrow (16 May). Detailed assessments of IDP shelters – to ensure SPHERE standards and identify further needs, and avoid any duplication – will be made by Red Cross volunteers and other NGO personnel.

Coordination

Regular coordination with the national and local government office of disaster management and coordination (BAKORNAS/ SATKORLAK/ SATLAK PB) is monitoring the evolving situation. In addition, a joint OCHA and BAKORNAS PB team is visiting the affected sites and plans to meet with relevant local government representatives. Following a joint assessment with the ministry of health and contingency planning, the World Health Organization is deploying a specialized team, mobile health clinics, health kits, and communication equipment.

Regular information sharing is ongoing with the Red Cross and Red Crescent, UN and international NGOs, donors and diplomatic missions. PMI is monitoring the situation from its operation centre at national headquarters. In addition to overall technical and operational support from the Federation, this response is also supported by the US government's development agency, USAID.

Information will continue to be shared via the Federation's disaster management information system (DMIS) and regular updates on the Federation website. There is constant information sharing and coordination between PMI, the Federation country delegation, the Federation regional delegation and Secretariat in Geneva, and all are on a stage of alert.

Abbreviations
· BAKORNAS PB: National Coordinating Board for the Management of Disaster
· BPPTK: Center for Volcano Research and Technology Development
· MENKOKESRA: Deputy for Disaster Management of Coordinating Ministry for People's Welfare
· ORARI: Amateur Radio Organization of Indonesia
· PDAM: local state owned water company
· PMI: Palang Merah Indonesia (Indonesian Red Cross)
· SATLAK: District Disaster Management Committee
· SATKORLAK: Provincial Coordinating Unit for the Management of Disasters
· SO2: sulphur oxide

Mount Merapi Volcano related
· Gunung Merapi likely to erupt