2 June 2006

                                         Action Against Hunger mobilises

Action Against Hunger's exploratory team has found considerable unmet needs in overlooked rural areas.

The situation continues to deteriorate in Indonesia in the aftermath of the earthquake that struck the region of Jogjakarta last week. Authorities now estimate more than 6,000 dead and hundreds of thousands homeless and displaced and concerns remain regarding the activity of nearby volcano Merapi.

Action Against Hunger dispatched teams of emergency specialists immediately on the day of the tragedy to assess the situation. Additional staff joined them shortly thereafter and initiated food, water and sanitation operations in three provinces.

Significant Needs: Food, Shelter and Sanitation

The earthquake caused massive property damage: in certain areas, 80% of the houses were partially or entirely destroyed; in urban areas, water systems were partially destroyed, while damage to the majority of the areas' sanitation infrastructure presents a real risk for the contamination of underground water sources. The most affected populations in rural areas are already having difficulty accessing food and drinking water, and they will face additional risks as the situation worsens in the days to come.

Reinforcing Local Solidarity

A significant outpouring of support in the days immediately following the catastrophe arose spontaneously from those who were left unscathed: once again, the Indonesian population showed a remarkable sense of solidarity in the face of such a daunting disaster.

As welcome as this development is, it must be reinforced and organised if it is to be sustained. Following the initial urgency of rescue efforts, those in need of assistance and support will require a far more structured response if additional lives are to be saved and normalcy returned as soon as possible.

Action Against Hunger's programmes : Targeting the Worst Hit Areas

As always, Action Against Hunger has chosen to focus its efforts on the most vulnerable populations. The organisation plans to ensure the basic needs (food, water and sanitation) for those who were most affected and who remain the most difficult to access: an estimated 50,000 people in 3 districts (in the provinces of Bantul and Klaten).

Action Against Hunger will provide for the distribution of BP5 (protein biscuits) for families with children, clean drinking water, first aid kits, etc. As early as next week our teams will begin assessing the nutritional situation, as well as the psychosocial consequences of the shock sustained by the local populations, in order to plan for needs beyond the immediate emergency phase.

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30 May 2006: Action Against Hunger teams assessing needs (Read more)

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