Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

ShelterBox responds to Indonesia volcano eruption

ShelterBox responds to Indonesia volcano eruption


A ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) is travelling to Java, Indonesia and will arrive on 15 February to carry out needs assessments following the eruption of yet another volcano in the Asian country – Mount Kelud on the heavily populated island of Java.

ShelterBox is responding to the second Indonesian volcano eruption in two weeks. Tens of thousands of people have been forced from their homes on Friday after Mount Kelud sent a big plume of ash and sand 10 miles (17 km) into the air.

‘Based on verified data, over 76,000 people have been evacuated from five cities around the volcano ... and about 200,000 people have been affected,’ said the Asian country’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Nugroho.

Families still being evacuated

Nugroho also added that even though Mount Kelud is no longer erupting, the ash has spread as far as 312 miles (500 km) to the west and northwest. More families are still being evacuated.

Images of infrastructure covered in a thick layer of grey ash have been broadcast through various news agencies.

Hastings Fireman and ShelterBox Response Team volunteer Mike Peachy, will be joining in-country Response Team volunteer Vensentius Dwijatmoko to assess the need for emergency shelter and other vital aid, working with local Rotary club contacts and other aid agencies.

‘In country SRT volunteers… invaluable’
‘At this stage our plans are to obtain a clearer picture of the latest situation regarding the disaster by gaining information through not just other aid agencies and local media but also through Vensentius. In country SRT volunteers are invaluable as they speak the local language and have a detailed understanding of local customs, the political situation and structure, security, infrastructure and contacts.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

‘Vensentius will be able to provide insights and access that would take foreign SRT volunteers days or weeks to establish and grasp an understanding of, resulting in slower and less informed responses.’

Prepositioned aid
If a need is found, ShelterBox has aid prepositioned in Indonesia to enable a quick and efficient response, bringing shelter and vital supplies to families who may be in need.

Vensentius was also part of the Response Team that responded to flooding in Indonesia’s Jakarta two weeks ago when Mount Sinabung volcano erupted. The assessments carried out showed there was no unmet shelter need.

As one of 130 active volcanoes, Mount Kelud lies along the ‘Ring of Fire’ volcanic belt around the coast of the Pacific Ocean in the world’s fourth most populous country.

About Shelterbox
Since 2000, ShelterBox has provided shelter, warmth and dignity following more than 200 disasters in over 90 countries worldwide. The charity has provided shelter for more than 130,000 families in desperate need. Supported by Rotary International, ShelterBox instantly responds to earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, cyclones, tsunami or conflict by delivering boxes of aid and other vital supplies.
Each iconic green ShelterBox contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, stove, blankets and water filtration system, among other tools for survival. ShelterBox New Zealand is administered by the Rotary Club of Mosgiel Charitable Trust based in Mosgiel, New Zealand and its goal is to help 50,000 each year. www.shelterbox.org.nz


ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.