Rapid Response Payment No. 14/2007

Funds Sent To: Church World Service, Indonesia (CWSI) - US$ 10,712

Yakkum Emergency Unit (YEU) - US$ 5,556

Yayasan Tanggul Bencana Indonesia (YTBI) - US$ 25,363

Amount Sent: US$ 41,631

Date: 16 July 2007

Details of Payment

Emergency: Eruption of Mount Gamkonora in Halmahera, North Maluku Province

Date of Emergency: 9 July 2007

Implementing Partner: CWSI, YEU and YTBI

Details of the Emergency: More than 9,000 people have been evacuated from an area surrounding Mount Gamkonora in Halmahera, North Maluku province, eastern Indonesia, since it started spitting rocks, ash and smoke on 9 July. The evacuees are staying in tents provided by local army and police authorities. The government has sent food, tents, blankets and mats for the evacuees.

After a slowdown in volcanic activities on 12 July, five volcanic quakes shook the area on 13 July, sending ash over an area six kilometres from the crater. It is feared that a major eruption could be imminent and the alert has been raised to its highest level.

Conditions in the camps are difficult and many people are suffering from fever, diarrhoea, malaria and skin infections.

Proposed Assistance: To provide immediate relief in the form of food and non-food items as well as medical services.

YTBI's partner in the area, the Evangelical Church in Halmahera, carried out the initial assessment identifying food, basic non-food, tents, health services and santiation as the most urgent. The ACT members have agreed that the initial response will be in four villages.

As the situation is rapidly changing, the location and numbers may have to be revised. Around 90% of the beneficiaries are traditional farmers and fishermen.

CWS will purchase relief items that are available locally in Manado, North Sulawesi and Ternate, North Maluku in accordance with beneficiary's needs.

The three Act members are working in close co-ordination and will facilitate the distribution of relief items to the target beneficiaries in respective locations through local churches. As an initial response, CWS is providing 300 blankets; YTBI food and non-food items and YEU will send a medical team. A joint re-assessment will be conducted while distributing the initial relief assistance.

IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD: CWSI - two weeks, YEU - two weeks, YTBI - two months

BUDGET (US$)

CWS: 10,712

YEU: 5,556

YTBI: 25,363

TOTAL EXPENDITURE CWSI, YEU & YTBI: 41,631

ACTION

The ACT Co-ordinating Office has approved the use of US$41,631 towards the budget from its Rapid Response Fund and would be grateful to receive contributions to wholly or partially replenish this payment.

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ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.