Cablegate: Mgeap1: Indonesia Earthquake Humanitarian Update #1:

VZCZCXRO1564
OO RUEHDT RUEHPB
DE RUEHJA #1666/01 2780953
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 050953Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3488
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7964
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 8819
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI
RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 001666

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
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: MGEAP1: INDONESIA EARTHQUAKE HUMANITARIAN UPDATE #1:
ARRIVAL OF USAID/DART

-------
Summary
-------

1. In response to the magnitude 7.6 earthquake that occurred off
the coast of Sumatra Island, Indonesia, the U.S. Government (USG)
has begun providing humanitarian assistance to support Government of
Indonesia (GoI) response efforts. Nine members of the USAID
Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) have arrived in
country, and six of these individuals are currently in Padang. The
humanitarian community continues to receive conflicting reports of
the number of people killed and affected by the earthquake, as well
as the structural damage inflicted by the quake. The U.S.
Department of Defense (DoD) and USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign
Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) are providing humanitarian
assistance to affected populations. End summary.

---------------------
Arrival of USAID/DART
---------------------

2. On October 3 and 4, nine members of the USAID/DART arrived in
Jakarta, with two additional USAID/DART members scheduled to arrive
on October 5. On October 5, six members of the USAID/DART are
scheduled to fly from Jakarta to Padang to establish a USAID/DART
field office and begin conducting assessments and coordinating with
the GoI and members of the humanitarian community.

----------------------------------
Effects of September 30 Earthquake
----------------------------------

3. Various reports about the number of people affected by the
earthquake are circulating within the humanitarian community.
According to U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) staff in Padang, the
GoI Command Center in Padang reports that the earthquake resulted in
the deaths of 608 people, with 343 people missing. The numbers of
dead and missing are likely to rise, however, as rescue efforts
continue. The earthquake severely damaged 81,863 buildings,
inflicted moderate damage on 34,806 buildings, and lightly damaged
69,189 buildings.

4. Following an October 4 trip to Padang, DoJ staff members
reported that approximately 20 percent of the electrical grid in
Padang was functioning. Fuel is in short supply, as damage to the
electrical grid has left many fuel pumps inoperable. Contrary to
earlier reports, however, bottled water is readily available for
purchase in Padang town. In Padang, the USAID/DART will assess
humanitarian conditions and attempt to verify divergent reports
about the effects of the quake.

------------------------
Rescue Efforts in Padang
------------------------

5. According to DoJ personnel in Padang, intermittent rains on
October 4 and 5 in Padang have slowed rescue operations.

--------------
USG Assistance
--------------

6. A U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Humanitarian Assistance Rapid
Response Team (HARRT) is scheduled to arrive in country on October
5, with setup to begin as quickly as transport is available from the
airfield to the site. A mobile medical unit, the HARRT will be able
to treat between 200 and 250 patients per day and is expandable in a
modular format.

7. In addition, DoD is providing helicopters which can transport
humanitarian personnel and cargo. The first of these may arrive by
mid-week.

8. USAID/OFDA is airlifting humanitarian relief commodities from
its warehouse in Dubai to Padang. The commodities are tentatively
scheduled to arrive in country on October 6 and will be consigned to
the Indonesian Red Cross (Palang Merah Indonesia, or PMI). The

JAKARTA 00001666 002 OF 002

airlift includes plastic sheeting, hygiene kits, and power generator
sets.

9. USAID/OFDA has provided an initial $300,000 in humanitarian
assistance to affected populations and has reserved an additional $3
million for the earthquake response. In accordance with the
USAID/DART assessments of humanitarian conditions in Padang and
surrounding areas, USAID/OFDA may provide additional funding for
humanitarian assistance if necessary.

Osius#

© Scoop Media