30 May 2006

                                                Action Against Hunger teams assessing needs

Action Against Hunger has sent an exploratory team to earthquake affected Yogyakarta to assess needs.

Following the earthquake that struck the Indonesian provinces of Java Central and Yogyakarta, Action Against Hunger dispatched a team of emergency specialists, one of whom arrived on the day of the tragedy.

The team will evaluate the situation in the area, assessing gaps in response and possible interventions. There were several organisations present in the area, following concers raised by activity of volcano Merapi, to the north of the affected areas. This, in conjuntion with capacity gained at local level and national level during the response to the tsunami that hit in December 2004, has led to an efficient first response. Concerns remain about the 100,000 homeless and about their immediate future following the end of initial rescue efforts. Action Against Hunger teams are looking into this situation and focusing particularly on water and sanitation needs.

***ENDS***