Emergency Shelter Coordination Group Situation Report - Java Earthquake, Indonesia

KEY POINTS

1. The scale of this disaster is much greater than first thought. At least 1,173,742 people, and perhaps as many as 1,542,380 were rendered homeless by the earthquake. This is more than triple the number left homeless after the Asian Tsunami struck the Indonesian province of Aceh. The overall extent of damage to housing is also greater.
2. 106,396 tarpaulins and tents have been distributed by the humanitarian community and GOI to date, which equates to coverage of 31%. This figure is projected to rise only to 48% by the end of July, the date now proposed by GOI as marking the end of the emergency phase.
3. The projected gap in emergency shelter roofing materials by 31 July is 72,150 tarpaulins; in other words, funds to provide emergency shelter for 310,245 homeless people is still to be found.
4. Coverage of shelter-related non-food items such as sleeping mats, sheets, sarongs, cooking utensils, and hygiene parcels is even lower than that for roofing materials. More effort is needed to ensure that the principles of ‘safety and dignity’ are mainstreamed into operational programmes, especially for women.
5. Operational agencies are increasingly focusing on targeting vulnerable families at community level as resources do not allow for full distributions.
6. Distribution data is now being regularly received from 26 of the Cluster’s 56 registered operational agencies, and includes all of the larger agencies i.e 90+% of data is captured.
7. Humanitarian agencies are operational in 58 of the 65 Sub-Districts considered earthquake affected (the total number of Sub-Districts in the two affected Provinces is 104).
8. GOI emergency and transitional shelter strategy remains unclear, although discussions have begun with relevant District (SATLAK) authorities vis-à-vis the need for transitional shelter solutions. Discussions are now being sought with the World Bank and GOI (Ministry of Housing) in Jakarta.
9. Constructive and early linkages have been made with the Early Recovery Cluster concerning the undoubted need for more durable temporary shelter solutions to bridge the gap before permanent housing is constructed