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News note
UNICEF supplies arrive in earthquake zone
JAKARTA, 29 May 2006 - Emergency supplies for people made homeless by Saturday’s earthquake are being distributed in the most affected areas of the devastated city of Yogyakarta today.The first of three emergency airlifts planned by UNICEF to provide initial relief to victims of the earthquake arrived in the early hours this morning. The supplies include collapsible water tanks, tarpaulins, family tents, cooking sets, and recreation kits for children.
Another eight trucks carrying 12,000 hygiene kits arrived in the city at 1300. UNICEF has a team of 17 people in the area.
UNICEF’s Emergency Relief Coordinator, Edouard Beigbeder, stated today that a major priority was the provision of water and sanitation in Bantul in particular in hospitals overwhelmed with injured people.
“We are working with the hospitals administration to initially provide water and then to clean the site. By tomorrow afternoon we hope to be able to supply emergency latrines.”
As well UNICEF and its partners, Oxfam, the Bantul district water board and the International red Cross commenced a water tanker operation this morning to bring clean water to victims of the disaster. UNICEF contributed 5 tankers, Oxfam 5, PDM 2 and Red Cross 1. A total of 40,000 litres a day will be supplied. UNICEF today is setting up 15 emergency distribution points using collapsible water bladders.
The Children’s Agency will establish within 24 hours a child centre in Bantul to provide trauma counseling and recreation for children.
Beigbeder said that UNICEF had commenced assessment/tracing of separated children but he anticipated that trauma would be the bigger issue.
UNICEF upgraded this morning the number of people made homeless. It believes the number to be more than 130,000.
Most homeless people are remaining near their residences with about 15 small camps established near public buildings, housing between 100-200 people each.
“From our initial assessments about 40% of the total number of displaced people are children, 15% are under five years of age,” Mr. Beigbeder stated. “They require particular care due to their young age.”
The total amount of supplies which arrived by air is:
• 15 collapsible water bladders
• 10 large tents
• 50 family tents
• 800 tarpaulin sheets
• 350 cooking sets
• 1 generator
• 3 recreation kits
A further 12, 000 hygiene kits arrive by truck today at the Bantul Pendopo. Trucks have also departed UNICEF’s warehouse in Medan in Sumatra with further emergency supplies.
For further information please contact:
John Budd, UNICEF Indonesia +62 811936437 jbudd@unicef.org
Kendartanti Subroto, UNICEF Indonesia, +62 81 21080884 Email: ksubroto@unicef.org
Susan Lagana, UNICEF New York, 212 326 7516 E-mail: slagana@unicef.org
Video
VIDEO Audio
27 May 2006: UNICEF Indonesia Communication Officer John Budd describes immediate efforts to help quake-affected families in central Java. Reported by correspondent Sabine Dolan.
AUDIO listen
Indonesia earthquake
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Centres care for young quake survivors [with video]
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Back to school’ campaign for quake-affected children in Indonesia [with video and audio]
Relief efforts focus on education, water and sanitation [with video]
UNICEF expands relief efforts [with video and audio]
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First child protection centre in quake zone [with video and audio]
Emergency supplies reaching thousands [with video and audio]
