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USAID Provides Emergency Aid in Aftermath of Sumatra Quake

October 13, 2009

Fact Sheet #8, Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 (PDF, 68kb)

BACKGROUND AND KEY DEVELOPMENTS

People search for victims from a collapsed shop in Padang, West Sumatra, on October 1, 2009 after a 7.9 strong earthquake hit the area. Thousands of people were likely killed in a huge earthquake that struck Indonesia's Sumatra island, the Health Ministry's crisis centre head said. AFP PHOTO / Bay ISMOYO

• On October 10, a flight carrying 45 metric tons (MT) of relief commodities, including 340 rolls of plastic sheeting, 7,200 10-liter water containers, 6,720 hygiene kits, and 6 power generators arrived in Padang from the USAID/OFDA warehouse in Dubai. The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) is distributing the commodities--valued at more than $383,000 including transport--to earthquake-affected populations.
• The USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) continues to coordinate with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to arrange transportation for non-governmental organization (NGO) emergency relief supplies. To date, DoD has transported approximately 66 MT of emergency relief commodities via helicopter to affected areas throughout West Sumatra Province.
• On October 12, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) released a Government of Indonesia (GoI) district-level damage assessment. The assessment indicates that the earthquake damaged more than 265,418 houses, 105 health facilities, 52 bridges, 131 irrigation systems, and 81 markets.
• On October 13, USAID/OFDA committed $3 million to Mercy Corps for shelter and water, sanitation, and hygiene activities in earthquake-affected areas surrounding Padang through a NGO consortium. The consortium builds emergency response capacity in Indonesia.
• To date in FY 2010, the U.S. Government (USG) has provided nearly $8.9 million to earthquake-affected populations in Indonesia, including more than $4.8 million in USAID/OFDA funding. At present, USAID/OFDA supports health, protection, shelter and settlements, and water, sanitation, and hygiene activities, as well as the provision of relief supplies and logistical support. The USAID/DART continues to assess humanitarian needs to direct future USAID/OFDA programming.

CURRENT SITUATION

• According to the district-level assessment, Padang city and Padang Pariaman and Agam districts sustained the most extensive damage of all earthquake-affected areas in West Sumatra Province.
• USAID/DART assessments to date indicate a widespread need for shelter interventions to assist individuals to rebuild damaged or destroyed houses. Humanitarian reports also indicate pockets of additional needs, including agriculture, livelihoods, food, and water, sanitation, and hygiene.
• Humanitarian access continues to improve to earthquake-affected areas surrounding Padang city. The GoI has indicated sufficient road access to the six most earthquake-affected districts. However, access to several remote villages remains hindered due to landslides and damaged road infrastructure.
• The GoI continues to coordinate humanitarian activities in response to the earthquake, including the delivery of emergency relief commodities.

  Shelter and Settlements

• USAID/DART assessments and humanitarian reports indicate a widespread need for shelter interventions throughout earthquake-affected areas. USAID/DART members have observed individuals throughout Agam and Padang Pariaman districts residing in makeshift shelters at places of origin.
• During an October 11 USAID/DART assessment, USAID/DART members observed significant structural damage in and around Sicincin town, located 20 miles east of Pariaman town in Padang Pariaman District. Families had constructed temporary shelters in yards surrounding houses and all interviewed households indicated permanent shelter as a priority need.
• On October 13, OCHA reported that families living in Padang and Pariaman cities are residing with neighbors until temporary shelter supplies are provided, as well as tools to remove debris from former houses.
• To augment shelter support for earthquake-affected individuals, USAID/OFDA has consigned 340 rolls of plastic sheeting to PMI for distribution. In addition, USAID/OFDA is providing shelter repair and reconstruction kits to affected households through implementing partner Mercy Corps.

  Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

• According to OCHA, preliminary water and sanitation assessments confirm extensive destruction of water and sanitation infrastructure in the three most earthquake-affected areas--Padang city and Pariaman and Agam districts.
• To improve access to safe drinking water, PMI has installed six water treatment plants in Padang. In addition, the GoI and humanitarian agencies have established a total of 17 water distribution points throughout affected areas.
• PMI has initiated distribution of USAID/OFDA-provided 10-liter water containers and hygiene kits in affected areas to reduce the spread of waterborne disease.

  Health

• According to OCHA, 98 percent of community health centers have returned to normal operations as of October 13. However, OCHA notes that damaged health infrastructure continues to constrain the provision of medical assistance.
• To date, health assistance to remote areas has remained limited, according to OCHA. A local NGO reported that an increase in earthquake-related illnesses is likely due to lack of shelter and associated poor living conditions.
• To improve access to health care, particularly for individuals residing in areas outside of Padang and Pariaman cities, USAID/OFDA has committed $500,000 to International Medical Corps (IMC) to support mobile health operations through a local NGO, as well as provide psychosocial support.

  Agriculture and Food Security

• During an October 12 general coordination meeting, U.N. cluster members reported that damaged irrigation systems will likely result in lack of irrigation capacity in an unconfirmed amount of land, which may affect agriculture production in the current and upcoming growing season.
• During an October 10 assessment, the USAID/DART observed impeded water access and damaged irrigation systems in Nagari Tandikat village in Padang Pariaman District. The September 30 earthquake triggered a landslide which killed 350 people in the village, destroyed 70 houses, and blocked the river that provided the main source of irrigation and water to the village.
• The USAID/DART reported functioning markets and intact supply chains in several assessed areas of Agam and Pariaman districts, although USAID/DART staff note a 30 percent increase in the price of rice since the earthquake. The possible failure of the season’s rice harvest and increased price of rice in the markets could result in significant food insecurity, according to the USAID/DART and humanitarian agencies.

USG HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

• On October 1, U.S. Ambassador Cameron R. Hume issued a disaster declaration due to the effects of the earthquake. To date in FY 2010, USAID/OFDA has provided more than $4.8 million to support earthquake-affected individuals.
• On October 5, a USAID/DART was deployed to Indonesia to assess humanitarian conditions and coordinated with the humanitarian community, the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, USAID/Indonesia, and DoD to support the GoI humanitarian response to the earthquake. A nine-member USAID/DART team continues to assess humanitarian needs to direct future
• To date in FY 2010, DoD has provided more than $4 million for to support the humanitarian response to the earthquake. On October 5, DoD deployed a Humanitarian Assistance Rapid Response Team (HARRT), or mobile medical unit, to augment local medical facilities in Padang. In addition, DoD is providing helicopters to transport emergency relief commodities and aid workers to remote areas. DoD is also transporting implementing partner emergency relief commodities and personnel from Jakarta to Padang on C-130 aircraft.

For detailed information on U.S. Government humanitarian assistance to Indonesia, click here

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