Frequently Asked Questions about the Indonesian Earthquake

Posted: 29 May 2006

The devastating earthquake that struck Indonesia on May 27 has flattened villages, killing thousands and leaving 100,000 to 200,000 survivors homeless.

Where did the greatest damage occur?

Within Yogyakarta Province, the sub-district of Bantul was hardest-hit, with 2,159 reported dead and 1,889 injured. Seventy to eighty percent of the houses in Bantul have completely collapsed.
In Central Java Province, the greatest damage took place in the sub-district of Klaten, with 727 reported dead and 1,224 reported injured.

What are the most urgent needs of the survivors?

medical treatment, supplies and staff
emergency shelter
clean water and sanitation facilities
food
relief items like hygiene kits

Are humanitarian and governmental agencies coordinating their response to the disaster?

Yes. So far, coordination among government authorities and aid agencies has been good. The preparations that the government and humanitarian aid providers had made for an eruption at nearby volcano Mount Merapi contributed to good communication and organization when the earthquake struck. Oxfam is coordinating daily meetings of aid agencies to maximize the effectiveness of the overall response.

What are some of the complicating factors for survivors and aid providers?

Torrential rains have increased suffering among those with little or no shelter;
the rains pose health risks, as well, and there is little medical capacity to respond;
damage to roads and the local railways and airport is slowing the delivery of aid;
aftershocks continue to shake the affected area, and many survivors are understandably afraid to sleep indoors;
electrical power and communications systems are functioning only intermittently; and
many of those providing aid are suffering from trauma themselves.

What is Oxfam doing?

As of the morning of May 28 (EDT), Oxfam had

delivered 12,000 liters of clean water and installed two water tanks and two water bladders at two hospitals;
distributed 2,434 tarpaulins, each with the capacity to shelter 5-8 people;
distributed 950 hygiene kits;
distributed 4,900 sarongs for use either as clothing or for covering the dead; and
delivered a generator to provide electricity to a coordination center.

Why does Oxfam put so much emphasis on providing water and sanitation to disaster survivors?

Clean water saves lives. When communities are displaced and find themselves living in crowded camps, infectious diseases can sweep through the settlements with deadly speed. Oxfam has developed techniques and equipment and trained teams of engineers so that we can deliver clean water to communities whenever and wherever disaster strikes.

How was Oxfam able to respond so quickly to this disaster?

Oxfam has been working in Indonesia since 1972, carrying out programs focused on education, gender equity, fair trade, and emergency response. We have had an office and warehouse in Yogyakarta for nearly a decade, so trained Oxfam staff were able to reach the site of the disaster immediately, and supplies were ready for distribution.
Oxfam works with local partner organizations to ensure the effectiveness and cultural appropriateness of our programs. During this emergency, our local partners have been carrying out assessments and aid distributions.
Preparations for the eruption of Mount Merapi included pre-positioning staff and supplies in the area. These have proven invaluable in the current emergency.

Note: Sources for some of this information were provincial government authorities/UNOCHA and IRIN News