UNJCL Situation report 3 - INDONESIA - Nias - Simelue

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• CRITICAL
• GENERAL
• NIAS
• BANYAK ISLANDS
• SIBOLGA PORT (Main land Sumatra logistics hub)
• LAND
• FROM EAST TO WEST:
• SEA
• AIR
• MILITARY AND BILATERAL SUPPORT
• BOTTLENECKS IDENTIFIED MEDAN-NIAS SUPPLY ROUTE:
• MEETINGS/COORDINATION

CRITICAL

• UNJLC Banda Aceh reports that there has been an unprecedented level of cooperation and coordination amongst humanitarian actors, GoI and the relevant partners in response to the logistical challenges of the last week.

GENERAL

• TNI report that there are a total of 24,742 displaced people in the district of Singkil, including 13,776 in the district capital Singkil. Reports from NGOs in Singkil identify shelter and non-food items as the biggest priority. The road from Medan is open and aid is getting in by truck.
• A five-member UNDAC team has been deployed in Nias/Simueleu on 5 April.  They are tasked with coordinating with the GoI, UNJLC and the humanitarian community in order to assess and report on the scope of the disaster.
• 8 UNJLC personnel have been deployed to Nias/Simueleu Island to strengthen the UN's coordination of logistics for the humanitarian response. 
• In support of these efforts a more robust control and command centre has also been established in Gunung Sitoli by a Norwegian Support Team, WFP and UNJLC. It is expected that this will allow for greater capacity to off load and distribute goods arriving by both sea and air.
• As a consequence of the earthquake(s) the land at the coastline of the Hinaku islands west off Sirumbu at the West coast of Nias has reportedly risen by some two meters and hence it appears that the beaches there no longer exist.  This renders fishing difficult and 2,000 inhabitants are all reported to be in urgent need of food. Due to dense forestation of palm trees, even landing sites for helicopters appear difficult.

NIAS

• GoI operations in Nias Island will be coordinated by the SATKORLAK in North Sumatra jointly with POSKO, the Coordinating Unit of DMC in Medan. The Head of POSKO from Medan has deployed to Nias with personnel.
• A SATLAK data collection team today started to deploy in Nias to get further updates on the current situation around the island.
• The official number of IDPs as quoted by SATKORLAK today stands at 45,507 persons on Nias islands.
• IOM report that the road between Gunung Sitoli and the south of Nias is passable for light trucks via the west coast road. This will greatly improve the ability to distribute food and non food items to these areas, however, large parts of the island are still cut off from everything but helicopter access.  See more details below in the LAND section of this report.
• In Gunung Sitoli IOM has 19 trucks and runs 2 shuttles from the helipad and the port.
• IOM has a fleet of 30 trucks providing s shuttle service from the airport and the main harbour to warehouses where relief items are distributed around Nias.
• Gunung Sitoli:
• Mobile phone coverage and strength of signal is intermittent.
• WFP VSAT is located at WFP warehouse 2 km from OCHA - difficult to access.  VSAT number for Nias is 1 387-4622 or 4629.
•  Iridium satphones are more effective than Thuraya.
• Jet A1 fuel is required at airport.
• PERTAMINA fuel bowsers must be positioned at the airport to support helicopter operations.
• Small helicopters such as the Bell 212 are very useful for both assessments and movement of cargo/pax to isolated areas inaccessible by larger helicopters.  Currently, Samaritans Purse are doing an outstanding job of accessing the isolated areas with their Bell helicopters.
  SIMEULUE
• The Government of Indonesia announced that relief operations at Simeulue Island will be coordinated by the SATKORLAK, the Disaster Management Coordination (DMC) Unit of Aceh Province.
• On the island of Simeulue, authorities are now reporting that 90% of the population is displaced.
• SATLAK has reported that 90% of the 78,000 population on Simeulue is currently living outdoors. Further damage assessments are currently underway.

BANYAK ISLANDS

• SurfAid report that low lying coastal parts of the Banyak Islands have been inundated with water and the residents of these areas have moved to higher ground.
• The priority needs are food, drinking water and shelter.
• SurfAid have distributed rice and drinking water in Pulau Balai and Teluk Nibang

SIBOLGA PORT (Main land Sumatra logistics hub)

• Currently 2 MI8 are flying to G. Sitoli each morning and each afternoon.  When they arrive in G. Sitoli they provide flight support within their fuel limits before returning to Sibolga for re-fueling more cargo.  There is no back-log of humanitarian supplies at the airport.
• The airport warehouse is currently owned by TNI.  Additional warehousing identified and JLC has negotiated 2 Rubb Halls to be provided by IFRC meet this need.
• There have been reports of food shortages in isolated areas along the mainland coast - north and south of Sibolga.
• Goods arriving in Sibolga are not well marked and are often missing waybills.  Clear labeling of contents, originator and consignee etc. are essential.
• IOM is establishing a local transport network in the area.
• It is reported that ACP will be providing 3 ferries in 3-4 days.  Currently there is a back-log of 60 trucks waiting ferry transport.
• There is no food available at the port, or off-loading equipment.  Coordination is required at the port.

LAND

• IOM in partnership with local NGOs is carrying out a damage assessment of roads and bridges across the island. Some preliminary data is below
  o GPS coordinates provided by a local NGO (Wanadri) in convoy (six-wheeled trucks) on the road between Gunung Sitoli and Sirombu, located on the west coast of Nias Island. (Village and river names where available provided by IOM staff who delivered food aid to the area on Monday 4 April.)

FROM EAST TO WEST:

• Large hole in the road, 1.5m x 1.5m x 2m. East of Hilibebe Osala. H0114074          E09737084
• Bridge - Tuhahan Village/Mandrehe Subdistrict. Bridge deck appears okay but approach and exit very steep. Planks of wood are available to facilitate travel. H0104208          E09733510
• Bridge - Fadoro village, over the Moroo river. Bridge deck appears okay but approach and exit very steep. Planks of wood are available to facilitate travel. H0103249          E09730088
• Bridge - Sitolokamua Village. Bridge deck appears okay but approach and exit very steep. Planks of wood are available to facilitate travel.   H0058434          E09729497
• Bridge - Abai village. Bridge deck appears okay but approach and exit very steep. Planks of wood are available to facilitate travel. H0057507          E09726064
• Bridge - village unknown (there are questions about the location of this reading. It may not be the most westerly of the trouble spots). Access very difficult but wood available. H0058024          E09727499
• General Notes: While timber is available at the bridge crossings it is advisable to bring your own. Generally the road surface is in good shape and getting better as some of the larger holes are being filled in. Team reports Public Works are working on some of the sections.
• As mentioned above, road access around Nias is limited to small vehicles of low tonnage.   Access to remote areas is challenging. 
• Road access from Gunung Sitoli to Lahewa on the north coast of Nias is hampered due to five damaged bridges and 52 km of damaged road.
• Road to Teluk Dalam in the south coast of Nias also has five bridges and 87km damaged road.
• IOM reports that the IOM convoys have carried 20,638 metric tonnes of relief supplies along its various routes in the Tsunami/Earthquake response.
• A new route between Medan and Sibolga has been established in response to the increased needs on Nias Island, Simeulue Island and the Banyak Islands as a result of the major earthquake of 28 March.
• Medan - Sibolga has daily convoys, mainly by IOM (contact person is Marc Petzoldt  mob.0811 895 712). 
• IOM has 19 trucks of non-food items and medicines to be transported by ferry to Nias.

SEA

• SurfAid International conducted a helicopter assessment of Sirombu today. The port has been further damaged and is not suitable for unloading cargo.
• SurfAid will deploy a fuel boat out of Padang within the next 24 hours to support its growing fleet of response boats. The Lette will have 60 tonnes of fuel and will initially anchor of the west coast of Nias and Sirombu.
• One fishing boat, DWT 60 tonnes, hired by Mercy corps is en route to Simeulue Island 5 April.
• "Gatra III" Ship, for booking please contact Mr. Abdul Rahman on 0812 6044 292 and for TNI- boats to Sibolga, please contact Mr. Situmorang on 0812 6285 269. Also, a support ferry from Sibolga to Nias is available carrying vehicles.
• There is a bottleneck at the seaport Sibolga with difficulty in reaching much needed relief items to Nias, due to the fact that currently only two ferries are operating. Also, the return of trucks from Gunung Sitoli is hampered due to a large outflux of people (IDPs) trying to leave the island due to fear of further calamities.
• GoI bringing in more ferry capacity, ETA 9 or 10 April.
• The AusAid-funded Batavia and 2 vessels from Atlas Logistique arrived in Sinabang with non food items, such as tents, water bladders and family kits on Tuesday 5 April.

AIR

• See the UNJLC AIR OPS BULLETIN for more detailed information.  www.unjlc,org

MILITARY AND BILATERAL SUPPORT

• The Indonesian military has landed heavy earthmoving equipment and two battalions of personnel to begin restoring land communication on the island, in particular clearing roads, and fixing the airport.
• 1,000 TNI have been deployed to Nias to support rescue and clean up operations.
• A member of the Norwegian rescue team returning from Nias island(s) reported that part of the island near Sirombo at the West coast and inland had very poor access to food due to damaged roads. These areas could be reached only by motorcycles, why there is an urgent need to address the lack of food supplies to this population.
• 4.5 MT of medicines, emergency crash kits and supplies were today transported by C130 to Medan for onward distribution to Nias.
• The Australian hospital ship arrived in Nias 5 April.  Also, two C130s have been provided by the Australian Government.
• In addition, the USS Mercy arrives within one week: awaiting medical team being flown in from the US.   (The medical assistance offered by the USS Mercy includes a 50 bed hospital.  The Mercy is equipped with two helis for airlift of casualties.)
• UNJLC is assisting the humanitarian community with accessing space on the military flights.  For procedures, forms, and explanatory notes see www.unjlc.org
• On 30 March the Government of Japan dispatched the 11-member Japan Disaster Relief Medical Team for 14 days to the affected area. Emergency assistance in-kind will be given in the form of 50 sets of tents (for 6 persons), 1,000 blankets, 300 sleeping mats and 20 generators, with transportation supported by Japan.   
• The Government of Singapore has sent a humanitarian assistance team to Nias island comprising 3 Chinook helicopters, a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) medical team and a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) Disaster, Assistance and Rescue Team (DART).
• The 3 Chinook helicopters will support Indonesia's transportation needs and carry out medical evacuation in the disaster area.
• The SAF medical team and the SCDF DART team will work together with Indonesian agencies on the ground. They will be joined by representatives from the Singapore Red Cross and Mercy Relief.
• The SAF will also deploy a C-130 transport plane to ferry additional personnel and relief supplies.
• Search and rescue efforts continue with the support of PSF and Singapore search and rescue.
• The Philippine Government will dispatch a 16-member medical team to the earthquake affected area.
• The Russian Federation has deployed an IL76 with medical teams.
• The 14-member Hungarian Search and Rescue Team, which deployed to Nias on 31 March, departed the island on 5 April. The team was comprised of doctors, nurses, medics and firemen, as well as two search and rescue dogs and their trainers.

BOTTLENECKS IDENTIFIED MEDAN-NIAS SUPPLY ROUTE:

• Airport at Polonia in Medan.  Bottleneck was caused by a shortage of air assets. 
• Current Situation:  This problem in now resolved and the humanitarian supplies are being cleared effectively by TNI and UNHAS/UNJLC assets.
• Port in Sibolga.  There is a back-log of approx 60 trucks waiting to use the 2 ferries traveling from Sibolga to G. Sitoli and Nias island.
• Recommendation:  The ferry capacity problem is being addressed by POSKO who are adding 3 additional ferries to cover the route - ETA 4 days. 
• IOM and POSKO are combining to coordinate ferry traffic.  WFP is also considering adding a 1000MT capacity ship for transporting food. 
• G. Sitoli on Nias Island.  There is a backlog of empty trucks unable to get on the ferry due to the large numbers of IDPs/pax moving onto the ferry.
• G. Sitoli port and onward dispatch. Lack of capacity to move cargo inland from Sitoli to including the islands west and north of Nias.
• Recommendations: 
• TNI is conducting road assessments to determine what roads in need of repair. 
• Helicopter assets are required urgently to conduct assessments and to deliver food to isolated areas, including the islands.
• Fuel bowsers need to be positioned at the airport to support such ops.
• Routine UNHAS airservice is requested to G. Sitoli.  It is estimated that there is a requirement for 8-10 pax  4 times per week.

MEETINGS/COORDINATION

• In Medan, There are daily coordination meetings with OCHA at 0830 and with a general NGO and UN Agency meeting at 1000hrs.  The logistics and transport sector meeting recommenced today - chaired by UNJLC.
• UNJLC is establishing a Help Desk and an operations coord. cell with IOM and POSKO in POSKO.  The purpose will be to assist all NGOs and agencies in transport of their goods.
• Data capturing the movement of commodities from Medan is being gathered by OCHA and UNJLC staff.   (Medan data - of registered relief supplies sent is below)