Cablegate: Indonesia Earthquake Humanitarian Update #14: Usaid/Dart

VZCZCXRO9872
OO RUEHDT RUEHPB
DE RUEHJA #1783/01 2991042
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 261042Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3654
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 8008
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1110
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 8872
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 JAKARTA 001783

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP, CA
STATE FOR USAID
USAID FOR DCHA/OFDA CCHAN, ACONVERY, RTHAYER, AND RMT
USAID FOR ANE KROSEN
BANGKOK FOR ADWYER
NSC FOR CPRATT
USUN FOR DMERCADO
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH
PACOM POLAD/J3/J5

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV CASC ECON EAID SENV ID PHUM AEMR ASEC CASC
MARR, PREL, PINR, AMGT, EAID, AQ, LA, RP, TN, VM, WS

SUBJECT: INDONESIA EARTHQUAKE HUMANITARIAN UPDATE #14: USAID/DART
DEPARTURE

REF: JAKARTA 01776

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Summary
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1. On September 30, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck off the coast
of Sumatra Island. In response, Post issued a disaster declaration,
and a USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) deployed
to Padang, West Sumatra Province. To date, the USAID/DART has
programmed nearly $5.3 million in funding from USAID's Office of
U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA), with plans to program
additional funding for disaster response and disaster risk reduction
activities. USAID/OFDA support includes an airlift of emergency
relief commodities and programs to provide affected populations with
relief commodities and urgent shelter, health, protection,
humanitarian coordination and information management, and water,
sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) assistance. The U.S. Department of
Defense (DoD) also provided support, including a mobile medical unit
and transportation, worth nearly $3.8 million. On October 25, the
USAID/DART departed Padang. Two USAID/OFDA field officers plan to
remain in Padang through mid-November to finish programming
remaining funding and ensure that programs meet beneficiaries'
needs. End summary.

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Earthquake in West Sumatra Province
-----------------------------------

2. On September 30, a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck approximately
30 miles off the western coast of Sumatra Island, causing
significant damage in West Sumatra Province. The earthquake killed
1,117 people, according to the Government of Indonesia (GoI), and
affected at least 1.2 million others, according to the U.N. World
Health Organization (WHO). The quake damaged or destroyed
approximately 265,000 houses, led to landslides that blocked or
damaged roads, and caused numerous schools, hospitals, government
offices, and other public buildings to collapse or sustain
significant damage. The most affected areas include Agam, Padang,
and Padang Pariaman districts.

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Disaster Declaration and Deployment of USAID/DART
--------------------------------------------- ----

3. On October 1, the GoI declared a state of emergency, and
Ambassador Cameron R. Hume issued a disaster declaration. In
response, USAID/OFDA provided an initial $300,000 for shelter and
WASH assistance.

4. On October 2, a USAID/DART deployed to Indonesia, and team
members began to arrive in country on October 4. The 12-member team
included a team leader, program officer, field officer, shelter and
settlements specialist, safety and security officer, communications
officer, logistics officer, press officer, administrative officer,
information officer, and two military liaison officers.

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USAID/DART Activities and Programming
-------------------------------------

-- USAID/DART Activities --

5. The USAID/DART conducted assessments of humanitarian needs and
coordinated assistance with the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta,
USAID/Indonesia, DoD, the GoI, members of the humanitarian
community, and implementing partners. Aerial and ground assessments
indicated that the primary humanitarian need of earthquake-affected
populations is emergency shelter assistance and that populations
also require varying degrees of assistance to meet WASH, health,
food, early recovery, protection, and other needs.

JAKARTA 00001783 002 OF 003

-- Current Programming --

6. In response to humanitarian needs, the USAID/DART has programmed
nearly $5.3 million. Implementing partners include the American Red
Cross, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), Mercy Corps, International
Medical Corps (IMC), and the U.N. Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Per reftel, the USAID/DART has
monitored partners' activities.

7. Shortly after the earthquake, USAID/OFDA provided $300,000 to
Mercy Corps for shelter and WASH assistance. USAID/OFDA also
provided $3 million through Mercy Corps to humanitarian
organizations in the Emergency Capacity Building (ECB) consortium
that are responding to the earthquake. Of the grant to ECB, Save
the Children received $1.1 million, Catholic Relief Services
received $400,000, World Vision was awarded more than $500,000, CARE
received $400,000, and Build Change was awarded $100,000. These
organizations are distributing emergency relief commodities and
providing temporary shelter and WASH assistance in Pariaman
District; Agam District, including Tanjung Raya Sub-district; and
Sungai Limau Sub-district of Padang Pariaman District.

8. USAID/OFDA has provided nearly $500,000 to the American Red
Cross and commodities valued at nearly $400,000, including
transport, to PMI. The American Red Cross is working in Indonesia
through PMI, which is providing relief commodities to affected
populations. The American Red Cross is procuring pumps and small
generators to attach to the Padang city water system in order to
develop public hydrants. The public hydrants will replace the
current tankering system that is supplying water for Padang, as up
to 80 percent of city residents are without running water due to the
earthquake, according to OCHA. In addition, the American Red Cross
is procuring 5,000 family kits, 1,000 baby kits, and 10,000 sarongs
for distribution to affected households.

9. USAID/OFDA has provided $500,000 to IMC for a program targeting
Padang Pariaman District. With USAID/OFDA funding, IMC is
addressing the critical emergency health care and psychosocial needs
of earthquake-affected populations. USAID/OFDA funding also allowed
IMC to support search and recovery efforts through local partner
Ambulan 118. IMC is coordinating all health activities with the
Padang Pariaman District Health Department and the Provincial
Coordinating Unit for the Management of Disaster and conducting
activities through the Indonesian health care system.

10. USAID/OFDA has provided $400,000 to OCHA to support
humanitarian coordination and information management. OCHA has
coordinated the cluster system, which the U.N. stood up in West
Sumatra following the earthquake. OCHA has been responsible for
facilitating engagement between the GoI National Disaster Management
Agency (BNPB) and members of the humanitarian community. OCHA is
also responsible for facilitating coordination within each cluster,
which has been strong.

-- Planned Programming --

11. Due to significant humanitarian needs for transitional shelter,
USAID/OFDA plans to program additional funding for two
non-governmental organizations to implement transitional shelter
activities. In addition, USAID/OFDA tentatively plans to provide
funding for disaster risk reduction activities, including a
training-of-trainers program in earthquake resistant structures, as
well as an earthquake preparedness curriculum for primary schools.

-- Shelter Activities --

12. The USAID/DART has issued regular reports on team activities
and humanitarian conditions of earthquake-affected populations. The
primary humanitarian need of the affected population is shelter, and
both humanitarian programs and spontaneous recovery by households
are beginning to address needs. However, the shelters currently
being built are inadequate to serve as transitional shelter for up

JAKARTA 00001783 003 OF 003

to two years, generally the length of time necessary for the GoI,
affected households, and others to rebuild permanent shelters. The
core challenges of the humanitarian community in Indonesia are thus
related to the provision of transitional shelter, which is
increasingly viewed as the first phase of the longer-term
reconstruction effort.

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DoD Assistance
--------------

13. On October 2, Post requested DoD's assistance. In response,
DoD sent three ships, one cargo plane, and five helicopters to
Padang. DoD fixed and rotary wing aircraft transported 997
passengers and 401,000 pounds of cargo. In addition, DoD deployed a
Humanitarian Assistance Rapid Response Team (HARRT), or mobile
medical unit, to Padang. The HARRT treated 1,945 patients in eight
days. DoD assistance is valued at nearly $3.8 million.

--------------------------------------------- ---
Continuing to Assess and Meet Humanitarian Needs
--------------------------------------------- ---

14. On October 25, the USAID/DART departed Padang. However, two
USAID/OFDA field officers remain in Padang through mid-November to
continue to assess humanitarian conditions, finish programming
additional funding, and work with implementing partners to ensure
that programs meet beneficiaries' needs.

Hume#

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