Summary
Content
The aim of this UNJLC Bulletin is to provide a first overview of AirOperations and other Logistics in the South Asia Crisis region that wasaffected by the Tsunami of the 26th of December 2004. You can subscribe to this bulletin on the UNJLC website http://www.unjlc.org/content/index.phtml/itemId/28272) or send an email to southasia.bulletin@unjlc.org providing us with your name and organisation. You can unsubscribe by sending an email to southasia.bulletin@unjlc.org. Also, additional information can be found on the website (www.unjlc.org).
Overall
- Under the auspices of the OCHA Task Force, CMCoord is in progress at three levels. OCHA/CRD in New York and OCHA/MCDU in Geneva are working broad CMCoord issues and coordinating deployments of CMCoord officers. The regional cell in Thailand will establish coordination processes with the international military organizations responding for the relief effort (US and Australian for now), and UN RC/country teams/UNDAC teams coordinate with military units operating in their respective countries. The regional CMCoord cell may relocate to U-Tapao to more effectively coordinate with the US and Australian militaries.
- From UK the first of initially two C17 airlifts are underway to Bandah Aceh. Cargo is IHP modules and teams. The priority for this aircraft is to
- enable UN to develop infrastructure capacity. Additionally Frigate Chatham and APV Diligence are en route to Sri Lanka to provide assistance, there is 2 x Lynx capability. The tasking is being coordinated through UK DFID office in Colombo, again primary to support UN capacity.
- WFP FITTEST is flying in ICT Equipment to Jakarta and Colombo from Dubai on 03/01/05. Up to 12,000 kgs of gross ICT Equipment can be taken per flight.
Indonesia
- A UNJLC will be set up in Jakarta and Banda Aceh to provide a commodity tracking system and coordinate logistics. Also a joint agency telecommunications architecture will arrive.
- UNDAC quick assessment reports: a lot of population movement, building up of IDP camps in affected areas, huge gaps in area's covered by humanitarian relief and in food items available. The quantities of relief coming in are insufficient and meals are nutritionally unbalanced.
- Medan airport is experiencing more congestion and shortage of warehousing.
- However, donors are urged to avoid Banda Aceh because of congestion. Road transport from Medan is recommended.
- In Banda Aceh manpower for off-loading is still insufficient and storage is not safe. Tarpaulins are needed to protect relief goods, especially food from getting wet. No Jet-A1 available. At Banda Aceh airport (WITT) helicopters can land on a clear area near the tarmac. Flights can arrive during the night.
- The port in Banda Aceh is completely destroyed, an assessment is forthcoming.
- In Banda Aceh a Singaporean field hospital is in place.
- The road from South Sumatra to Medan via Padang is useable and has been used already by UNHCR with a police escort.
- The West coast is very hard to reach since the roads 12-15 km south of Banda Aceh are not useable. Food and medical teams are the biggest priority here. Boats are used to deliver relief goods, but pirates are a real concern off the West Coast.
- According to the assessment mission to the western coast conducted by MSF most of the towns and villages have almost disappeared. There are scattered communities of IDP-s (appr. 1000 people) in surrounding mountains. They are in great need of all support including health care and medicines. There is no possibility to reach the area by land or sea. The only possibility to transport goods is via airlift.
- Local authorities confirmed the promise of government to provide free access to all areas for international relief organizations.
- 5 U.S. Sea Hawks (helicopters) from the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (carrier) have landed and 5 more will land.
- A Spanish 707 aircraft has flown in 50 medical staff to Medan on 01/01/05. They are negotiating to move to Banda Aceh. A C130 with a water treatment plant arrives 02/01/05.
- An aircraft carrying humanitarian aid to Indonesia left Beijing Sunday afternoon. According to the Ministry of Commerce, the about 1.8 million US dollars worth materials include medicine, food and generators, and they will be airlifted to Medan.
- A WFP ship has arrived at Belawan 01/01/05. It carries 12.000 tonnes of rice. There are problems unloading this ship due to labour shortages.
- A WFP/TNT convoy has left from Medan to Banda Aceh 01/01/05 carrying 18 MT of fortified biscuits, 50 MT of rice and some fuel and water. 13 trucks will be loaded 02/01/05 with rice and biscuits for Banda Aceh. 20 trucks and 2 tankers for fuel will arrive in Banda Aceh soon for WFP.
- IOM has 38 trucks in Banda Aceh with enough fuel to operate for one month.
- Some truck convoys have TNI/government escorts.
- UNICEF sent 40 emergency health kits. Tarpaulins arrived 31/12/05 in Jakarta and will be sent to Banda Aceh.
- ICRC has a logistics team in Singapore and an AN-124 has arrived in Singapore 01/01/05. Two Norwegian C130s will arrive in Singapore as well for use by ICRC.
- Field hospitals are being sent to the region.
- MSF has about 40 staff with 70 tons of food and fuel in Banda Aceh. They are carrying out helicopter damage assessments at the moment.
- Swedish Rescue Services Agency will establish a tented camp for 70 mostly UN workers in the area. The exact location will be confirmed on 01/01/05.
- IHP has sent its equipment for setting up a camp for aid workers from Denmark to Banda Aceh. Office equipment, tents, bed, vehicles, medical supplies etc. were brought.
- Needed in Banda Aceh: increased drinking water and washing water supplies for about 100,000 people, emergency latrines for at least 20,000 people, shelter materials for IDPs camps (family-size tents), additional nutritionally balanced food, public health monitoring nad interventions(especially psychosocial support).
- In Banda Aceh city more bulldozers etc. are needed for road clearing.
- The West coast is very hard to reach since the roads 12-15 km south of Banda Aceh are not useable. Food and medical teams are the biggest priority here. Boats are used to deliver relief goods, but pirates are a real concern off the West Coast.
- Priorities right now are: Communications support. Lack of communication possibilities is hampering distribution of goods and other operations; water purification, equipment and PUR tablets and powder are needed. Second tier priorities: Shelter (plastic sheets and tents); nutritionally balanced food; health kits and essential pharmaceuticals.
- The telecommunication company Ericsson will provide facilities to boost the GSM network in Banda Aceh in near future. Six satellite phones have been donated from Ericsson Indonesia and a further twenty satellite phones have been sent from Ericsson Response.
Sri Lanka
- The Center for National Operations (CNO, www.priu.gov.lk/cno) is coordinating assistance to the affected population. The CNO is under the authority of the President Secretariat and supported by the Office of the Resident Coordinator and the UNDAC team.
- E-mail address of DRN at the airport in Colombo where all info on incoming commodities should be sent to: aet_cmb@hotmail.com
- UN-agencies and NGOs have increased their presence in the area. UNICEF, for instance, has provided 15 UNICEF emergency medical kits (to serve 150,000 people for 3 months).
- Concerns are damaged roads and bridges in the affected areas and damaged hospitals and health centres.
- The US will send up to 1,500 marines with one ship and 20 helicopters.
- Pakistan is sending an engineering task force and a field hospital to Indonesia and two navy ships carrying helicopters to Sri Lanka to join relief efforts in tsunami hit areas.
- WFP has been dispatching food commodities by truck since the 28th of December. Another 40 trucks will be sent from Pakistan to Sri lanka (20X10MT, 20X 15MT).
- There are still problems in mobilizing trucks for the delivery of relief goods. The CNO assists by mobilizing 30 to 40 trucks for food transportation starting 02/01/05.
- There is a shortage of vehicles to deliver drugs and pharmaceuticals and for the mobility of the MOOH in reorganising the health services and to provide services to refugee camps. At least ten Lorries and four refrigerated vehicles are needed.
- 770 camps have been set up for IDPs. Needed is food, pharmaceuticals, drinking water in bottles, clothing etc. These camps will have to be maintained in the foreseeable future, so the needs are continuous.
Maldives
- The government has established food and NFI distribution centres. The government Rescue Coordination Centre is sending food rations to atoll chiefs who distribute to islands.
- Bad weather hampers travel by boat and plane and delivery of aid.
- WFP will fly 100 MT of biscuits to the Maldives from Delhi in the evening of 03/01/05.
- Oxfam offered 40 tons of bottled water (on behalf of Virgin) depending on handling and storage availability at the airport
Thailand
- The focus is still on the retrieval and identification of dead bodies. A task force for Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) has been established and is chaired by the Deputy Chief of the Royal Thai Police. Transport of DVI teams is coordinated by the Australian team.