UNJCL Situation report 4 - INDONESIA - Nias - Simelue

Content

• 1. SECURITY
• 2. GENERAL
• 3. STAFFING
• 4. LAND
• 5. SEA
• 6. NIAS ISLAND
• 7. BANYAK ISLANDS (SINGKIL)
• 8. FUEL
• 9. AIR
• 10. MEETINGS

Note: This Earthqake update will be incorporated into the UNJLC IOT Bulletin beginning next week.

1. SECURITY

• Simeulue is under Phase IV, as is the rest of Aceh Province except Banda Aceh. The United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) are currently reviewing a possible recommendation of phase-down.
• Assessment team for Simeulue reported that hungry people have broken into at least one BULOG store, necessitating police guards.

2. GENERAL

• The distribution of relief items to both Nias and Simeulue is continuing, but difficulties still remain with internal distribution of goods on both islands. The district of Singkil is now being supplied by road from Medan and more aid is expected to arrive there in the coming days.
• Since most of the roads in Simeulue and Nias are not accessible, WFP is exploring maximum use of its air assets to deliver food to the population in need within the islands.
• CARE warehouse in Simeulue will be used temporarily to store WFP food. Out of 3 RubbHalls required, one will be sent to Simeulue shortly.
• In response to the Nias earthquake, the immigration office has announced that visa on arrival will be granted for 30 days to those engaged with humanitarian assistance.
• IOM and air cargo movement request forms are collated by UNJLC Medan, however, far greater volumes of relief support are moving to Nias than is reflected in these data, and the UNJCL/OCHA would appreciate input from all agencies/organizations of other movements.

3. STAFFING

• A UNJLC GIS Specialist, will fly to Nias 8 April to work on the collation of assessment data for mapping.
• Head of UNJLC Banda Aceh has returned to Banda Aceh. He was part of the first team to reach Nias Island after the 28 March Earthquakes.
• In Nias, 5 UNJLC staff members are on the ground as of 8 April.

4. LAND

• In south Nias, in both Kec. Lahusa and Kec. Gomo, road access is very poor with huge fissures in the roads.
• In Kec. Gomo access is difficult even by helicopter due to jungle cover. Police Chief advises that if goods can be stockpiled in Halejuhulu, he can organise movement to the interior.
• South Nias, Kec. Teluk Dalam. road access is very poor with huge fissures in the roads: alternate access is via sea to Teluk Dalam.
• Kec. Batu Islands/Hibala, is accessible by sea.
• IOM is conducting a rapid road assessment in Nias with a 4 team NGO. It is expected the assessment will have been completed by 08 April 2005.
• IOM is providing free land transport service from Medan-Sibolga and on the island of Nias.
• Road and bridge infrastructure is considerably damaged over the past week we have been made aware of two incidents where in bridge collapsed after trucks had driven over them. It is recommended that trucks brought to Nias be of less than 5 MT capacity.
• Medan-Sibolga road is open for trucks.
• Medan-Meulaboh is open and able to carry 8MT trucks. WFP has 20 x 8 MT trucks filling stock in Meulaboh for eventual onwards movement to Nias and Simuelue, and other regular requirements.
• WFP has 20 x 8 MT trucks in Meulaboh for eventual onwards deployment to Nias and Simuelue, and other regular requirements.
• 7x 8MT trucks are loading rice for Sibolga for onward delivery to Nias on 7 April by ship.

5. SEA

• Ferry Schedule Route: Singkil-Sinabang (Simeulue Island)
• Tuesday        1000hrs  Singkil-Simeulue
• Wednesday   2100hrs  Simeulue-Singkil
• Friday           1800hrs  Singkil-Simeulue
• Saturday       1800hrs  Simeulue-Singkil
• Due to a bottle neck in Sibolga port (the Sumatra logs hub) and a shortage of sea transport (only 2 ferries available) up to 60 trucks from other agencies are reported to be waiting for goods movement across to Nias.
• 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. Estimated food requirements are 600MT/week - TBC.
• Ship for Hire. Description: Based in Padang and regularly operates as a walk on passenger ferry to the Mentawai Islands.
• 80 tons in the hold and approximately 40 MT on the first deck.
• Accommodation in staterooms (very basic) for up to 40 personnel
• Draft: 4m
• Renting or purchasing some of the local 3 to 5 ton freight haulers that operate in the area would enable offloading in remote locations.
• The charterer must bring their own communications gear including: Sat-phone, SSB radio, VHF for Ship-ship and UHF for Ship-air if needed.
• The ship has two Gen-set for 220 V and has 12 V DC wiring also. This ship is large enough to stay out in fairly rough sea condition that would force any smaller (less that 50 ton Gross burden) into port.
• The crew is all from North Western Sumatra area and the captain is very familiar with the area from Nias to Simeulue.
• Cost of the Charter would be Rp100 milion/week all inclusive for the basic vessel.
• The charterer would need to have a representative on board at all times.
• It has been reported that ACP will provide 3 ferries in 3-4 days.
• On 7 April, local coastal vessel The Endless Sun will be loaded with 50MT rice in Sibolga and is expected to arrive in Nias the same day.
• Other sea chartering options are being assessed, including a 1,000MT landing craft. This would reduce dependency on the current ferry system and provide opportunity to deliver goods at all main Nias ports and (Gunung Sitoli, Teluk Dalam, Sirumbo, Lahewa).
• 3 CARE International boats arrived in Nias on 7 April
• UNDAC report most urgent needs as food, shelter and water and sanitation and the continuing challenges in distributing aid caused by destroyed infrastructure / isolated locations.
• Results of rapid assessments carried out over the past days have identified large numbers of bridges on the roads along the east and west coasts are broken or damaged.
• Some of the rapid repair of bridges that has been carried out allows safe movement of motorbikes (max 5 MT recommended across the island).
• In Sinabang, the two harbour piers have also been damaged - one beyond repair - by the earthquake. As the land has risen above sea level the unloading of boats is slower.
• The Satlak in Simueleu, has also identified soft skin warehouses as a priority to allow the storing of food and non-food items.
• Electricity has been restored in Sinabang but supply remains erratic. The mobile telephone network (Telkomsel) was activated on 6 April.
• Additional rotation of landing craft to Simuelue and Nias are being considered by WFP.
• Ausaid-chartered vessel 'Batavia' is shipping 15MT of WFP goods to Gunung Sitoli.

6. NIAS ISLAND

• The USS Mercy commenced medical services today; they have 4 helicopters available to transfer patients that cannot be treated in Gunung Sitoli.
• Distribution of relief items on the island still remains a significant challenge.
• The seaports in Gunung Sitoli and Sibolga are still reporting heavy congestion.
• In Gunung Sitoli, large numbers of people are trying to leave the island and this has added to the congestion around the port.
• Apart from IOM, Samaritan's Purse and Surf Aid have been doing assessments and sharing the results with others agencies and organisations.
• TNI has also been reported to be carrying out road assessments.
• Telecom Sans Frontier has set up an internet and communication connection in Gunung Sitoli.
• TNI is expected to provide three additional ferries in the next 3-4 days from Sibolga to Gunung Sitoli.
• WFP VSAT is located at WFP warehouse 2 km from OCHA - difficult to access. VSAT number for Nias is 1 387-4622 or 4629.
• At Gunung Sitoli, there is a backlog of empty trucks wishing to return to Sibolga on the mainland.
• They are unable to get on the ferry due to the large numbers of IDPs/pax moving onto the ferry and taking up the space intended for trucks.
• There is a lack of capacity to move cargo inland from Sitoli to the isolated areas, including the islands west and north of Nias.
• Although TNI and NGOs are conducting assessments - it is suggested that the UN in conjunction with the GoI and TNI coordinate the assessments.
• Helicopter assets are urgently required to conduct assessments and to deliver food and move pax to isolated areas; including the islands.
• Fuel bowsers must be positioned at the G. Sitoli airport to support the helicopter operations.

7. BANYAK ISLANDS (SINGKIL)

• Several organizations have assessed the Banyak Islands, which have a population of approximately 5,000, and report there are no deaths or significant injuries following the 28 March earthquake. The islands appear to have sunk by a metre and a half, so some houses are now flooded with water. The most populated island is Pulau Balai with 1,500 residents.

8. FUEL

• As of April 7 14.00hrs local time, the Fuel Farm in Meulaboh is operational.
• The fuel farm has a capacity of 90,000L of Avtur Jet A1 fuel.
• This facility will provide re-fuelling capacity for helicopter and small fixed wing aircraft.
• Two further dispatches of 18,000L are being readied at Medan.
• Procedures for accessing fuel will be clarified and publicised.
• A total of 54,000L of fuel has been dispatched to Meulaboh. On hand 18,000L of total capacity 90,000L
• Lack of Jet A1 fuel in Nias considerably impacts ability to conduct operations. The provisions of drums or bowsers, located at the airport would be important. UNJLC and UNHAS are working together to resolve the problem.
• Jet A1 fuel, in bowsers are preferable to barrels: solution urgently required at the airport in G. Sitoli.

9. AIR

• Since most of the roads in Simeulue and Nias are not passable, maximum use of air assets will be required to deliver urgent relief supplies across the islands.
• Helicopter.
• Over the past week UNHAS helicopters have provided access to remote locations for assessment teams and medivaced from the larger cities in Nias.
• Samaritans Purse has done the same but from the more difficult to access areas, as they were using a smalller aircraft.
• As Samaritans purse is ceasing operations on 8 April it may be sensible for the UN to charter a small helicopter as this would provide access to remote areas for further watsan and food assessments by small teams leavinbg the larger helis free to continue uplifting cargo without diversion.
• Currently Samaritans Purse and Surf Aid are doing an outstanding job.
• Handling Equipment.
• TNT is soon expected to send cargo handling equipment to Binaka Airport (Gunung Sitoli).
• Fixed wing.
• The UNHAS chartered Fokker 27 is carrying cargo to Nias and other destinations.
• The Twin Otters have returned to normal schedule.

10. MEETINGS

• Daily coordination meetings chaired by UNOCHA at 1000hrs at POSKO.
• UNJLC/UNOCHA Medan Logistics and transport sector coordination have been cancelled as of April 8.
• No further requirement due to the fact that most logistics coordination takes place at, or directly, following the main 10.00hrs coordination meeting. If required, the logistics and transport coordination meeting will recommence.