Java Earthquake – Urgent Update From Islamic Relief - SA

Situation Overview 

Please note - for maps and pictures visit www.islamic-relief.com

• To-date over 5,000 deaths have been reported in the local and international media.

• UN sources indicate that approximately 20,000 people are injured due to the earthquake.

• According to UN sources on the ground, approximately 130,000 people have been left homeless by the devastation, with 40 % of these being children.

• The field team on the ground reports available medical facilities overwhelmed with people seeking treatment for injuries and there is a need for emergency medical staff and facilities.

• Hundreds of houses and government buildings in Bantul district were destroyed. Destruction was also present in buildings in Yogyakarta, 30 km from Bantul. Yogyakarta airport has also been closed off.

• Power is cut-off in Yogyakarta due to destruction of electrical facilities and infrastructure. Phone connections have been irregular in the area. There are also reports of disruptions of the water supply in the vicinity of Yogyakarta due to damage sustained by pipelines due to the earthquake.

• Immediate needs for the affected victims are water, food, hygiene kits and temporary shelters. It is estimated there is a need of over 5,000 emergency tents in the disaster area.

• Islamic Relief’s emergency team has been concentrating in providing potable water and temporary shelter provisions which is severely lacking on the ground.

• UN officials and senior government scientists have confirmed that they are seeing increased activity in nearby Mount Merapi volcano, and are predicting that the increased activity may lead to an imminent eruption.

Islamic Relief’s Actions

Islamic Relief has operations in the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta and a sub-office in the nearby Banten Province.

Initial emergency allocation of £ 500,000 has been approved by Islamic Relief Worldwide for initial emergency relief efforts. Currently Islamic Relief has taken these actions:

• Islamic Relief Worldwide has mobilized fundraising capabilities of our fundraising partners with a target funds to be raised set at £2 million.

• Sent Emergency Team headed by Surya Aslim (Emergency Response Officer) to evaluate situation and provide initial relief in the form of blanket distribution of potable water, food, blankets and hygiene kits.

• The team has set up base of operations in Kecamatan Jetis in Kabupaten Bantul, one of the most affected areas of the Yogyakarta earthquake. We are also increasing our capacity with local volunteers from universities in the surrounding areas whom are helping with our emergency relief work on the ground.

• The emergency team on the ground is setting up the water purification system in the area to restore access to clean water in the affected population.

• Islamic Relief is co-coordinating efforts with other international and national NGOs in Kecamatan Jetis to ensure effectiveness of interventions.

• Emergency relief items, medical supplies and emergency medical staff from Islamic Relief and 3 other NGOs from Banda Aceh has arrived to the disaster area and are being utilized.

• 400 family sized emergency tents are now being mobilized from Islamic Relief Pakistan for immediate use in Indonesia. These tents can accommodate 2000 beneficiaries.

*Islamic Relief Worldwide – SA is an international non-profit organization founded in 1984 and its mission has been to help not only Islamic or Muslim communities but all people all over the world who are in need of assistance. Islamic Relief is dedicated to alleviating poverty and suffering among the poorest in the world and is not a faith-based association as it provides help to any in need, assisting in disaster stricken areas irrespective of religion, race, gender, ethnic group or belief system.