SurfAid International Mentawai Earthquake Situation Report No. 8
SurfAid Ramps Up Its Earthquake Response With Help From Other Humanitarian Agencies and the Mentawai Surf Charter Business
Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF/Doctors Without Borders) Belgium and SurfAid International today joined forces to tackle the emergency of the dire situation facing the Mentawai islanders after two major earthquakes hit West Sumatra just over a week ago.
Smaller earthquakes, measuring in the 6s, have continued to rattle the region and the battered islanders, who are camped in temporary leaf and plastic shelters on hillsides, are terrified of another earthquake and possible tsunami.
Two deaths were reported in one of the camps at the southern Mentawai town of Sikakap overnight.
By tomorrow morning (Saturday 22 September) there will be three SurfAid-chartered emergency relief boats in the islands and by mid-next week we plan to have eight.
Melaleuca departs Padang for the Mentawai
The surf charter boat Melaleuca left Padang tonight staffed by combined teams from Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) and SurfAid personnel. MSF staff included a doctor, a psychologist, a field co-ordinator and field assessors.
Field assessments are important to ascertain casualties, illnesses and the immediate needs of the communities suffering after the disaster, and also to document the damage to houses, health clinics, schools, churches and mosques so that a targeted, timely response can be mounted.
Melaleuca, which also carried a cargo of building, shelter and hygiene kits, and 25 sacks of rice, is heading to Sikakap, where it will arrive tomorrow morning. Humanitarian staff on board will co-ordinate with on-the-ground aid personnel to obtain the latest information from the field.
SurfAid Emergency Preparedness (E-Prep) Mentawai Manager, Stephen Ray, CRS (Catholic Relief Services) and local government agencies have established a coordinated formula for a distribution pattern after drops to Silabu and surrounding villages over the past few days.
The boat will then head to the southernmost areas of Mentawai, which have been most seriously affected due to their proximity to the earthquake epicentres.
The SurfAid chartered ferry D’bora, SurfAid’s second emergency response boat, arrived in the southern Mentawai town of Sikakap at midday today and it has started a one-week distribution run to villages down the west coast of Pagai Selatan (South Pagai).
SurfAid filmer Tony Young, who is documenting the disaster so that we can arrest the attention of the world’s media to the urgency of the situation, said he was shocked by the damage in the town.
“Buildings have fallen into the water and there are a lot of roofs down,” he said. Young will continue with the mission as it heads south into the hard-hit, isolated villages.
Indies Trader I reports from the field
Indies Trader 1 skipper Tony “Doris” Eltherington contacted SurfAid today to report on the situation for the area south of the “Thunders” surf break, on the west coast of Pagai Selatan (South Pagai).
“We need assistance for the area of Tapak, Bulasat, Kinumbuk, Limu, Mapinang, Maonai, Lakkau and Limosau,” Doris said.
“I have been informed there are about 250 to 300 houses in all and the people would appreciate instant noodles, rice, cooking oil, mixed fuel, water etc.
“This information has come from the head of the village, Bapak (Mr) Liberini Saogo,” he said. “I believe John McGroder (Barrenjoey) has some supplies available and a bit of medicine.”
The Barrenjoey crew, who played a key role in SurfAid’s response to the Aceh earthquake and tsunami just over two-and-a-half years ago, is out in the Mentawai distributing a tonne of rice off their own initiative, based on information from SurfAid.
Emergency charters currently being organised
On Sunday night 23 September, the Wijaya will head to the southern and west coasts of Siberut, carrying building, tool and sanitary kits. It will meet with SurfAid teams there to do the distribution to the villages.
The Indies Trader 1 will be heading back out into the Mentawai Islands on Monday 24 September carrying 10 tonnes of emergency cargo as part of the joint cooperation between SurfAid and Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).
The surf charter boat Mikumba will take a similar load of aid supplies and another MSF medical team who are flying in from Jakarta on Tuesday.
If anyone needs high-resolution photos of the situation in the islands, please contact me via email below.
From all the team at SurfAid, thanks everyone for all the assistance and cooperation.
Kirk Willcox
SurfAid International Communications Director
Email: kirk@surfaidinternational.org
All images courtesy of SurfAid International
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