RI to form community center to help Japanese tsunami victims

Antara News, Fri, June 17 2011

Tokyo (ANTARA News) - Visiting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the Indonesian government plans to form a community center to help Japanese quake and tsunami victims.

President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono. (ANTARA)

"The Indonesian government`s assistance will come in the form of community center useful for the public," Yudhoyono said in a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan here on Friday.

The community center would serve as a reminder of good ties between the peoples, he said.

The Indonesian leader expressed his belief that Japan would soon recover from the devastating tsunami and make another glory in the future.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said the two governments had agreed to encourage cooperation in mitigating disaster risks as the two countries had high disaster risks.

On Saturday morning, Yudhoyono is scheduled to visit a tsunami-hit area in Miyagi prefecture to hand US$2 million assistance from the government.

During the visit, the President will convey a letter from Aceh children who survived the December 26, 2004 tsunami to Japanese children who had fallen victim to the March 11, 2011 tsunami engulfing northeast Japan.

The President is set to return home later in the day to end his six-day two-nation tour which also took him to Switzerland.

The President`s entourage included First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Industry Minister MS Hidayat, Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam, Chairman of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Gita Wirjawan, and Head of the Natural Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Syamsul Maarif.

Editor: Priyambodo RH

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RI calls for increased use of outer space technology

Antara News, Thu, June 2 2011

London (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna Ambassador I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja has called for the increased use of outer space technology to support development activities in developing nations.

He made the call at a function to mark the 50th anniversary of the first manned flight in outer space and the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) in Vienna recently.

In an emailed statement to the ANTARA correspondent in London on Thursday, third secretary of the Indonesian Embassy in Vienna Luna Amanda Sidqi said the Secretariat Office for Outer Space based in Vienna was organizing a special function to mark the 50th anniversary of the first manned flight in outer space by Yuri Gagarin in April 1961.

In the course of the commemoration, the organizing committee is also holding an outer space technology expo at the Vienna International Center on June 1-30.

Ambassador I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja went on to say outer space technology had grown rapidly but it had not been optimally used to help developing countries.

The Indonesian delegation to the event touched on developments in the use of outer space technology in Indonesia since the 1970s when the country launched Palapa telecommunication satellite in 1976.

By launching the Palapa satellite, Indonesia was the first developing nation to operate a satellite on its own, the delegation said.

The operation of the satellite had strengthened unity and cohesion of the Indonesian nation which was made up of various ethnic groups, and religious adherents inhabiting thousands of islands in the country.

In addition, it also helped efforts to mitigate the impact of natural disasters which frequently affected the country.

Looking ahead, the delegation said Indonesia needed to benefit from any opportunities to increase the use of outer space-based technology to support sustainable development through tele-education, tele-medicine and to provide information for climate change mitigation efforts.

Indonesia underscored the need of enhanced international cooperation in the use of outer space-based technology for various purposes such as remote sensing and disaster management, the delegation said.

Editor: Ruslan Burhani

President SBY wins UN disaster management award

Antara News, Tue, May 10 2011

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Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will receive a UN award for his outstanding work in the field of disaster management and risk reduction, Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam said.

"I am pleased and proud that President Yudhoyono will receive a UN award `Global Champion on Disaster Risk Reduction` in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 10, 2011," Dipo said in a statement on Monday.

"The UN award is the first of its kind and President Yudhoyono is the first to receive the award in recognition of his leadership in implementing natural disaster mitigation programs," he said.

Dipo said the President had assigned the head of the Natural Disaster Mitigation Board (BNPB) to represent him in receiving the award as well as to convey his message to delegates of 160 countries to the Conference on Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva. UN Secretary General Ban Kim-moon is slated to open the conference.

"The Indonesian government`s hard work in handling the impact of a tsunami in Aceh at the end of 2004 as well as natural disasters in the rest of Indonesia and its relief assistance to other countries showed the seriousness and awareness of President Yudhoyono as one of the world leaders who pay attention to the challenge and threat of natural disasters," he said.

"I say congratulation to President Yudhoyono. May his hard work encourage other developing countries to pay more attention to natural disaster risk management," he said.

Editor: B Kunto Wibisono

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RI sending mitigation team, US$2 million in aid to Japan

Antara News, Wed, March 16 2011

Marty also said Indonesia was also helped by Japan every time it was hit by a natural disaster and it was very reasonable and appropriate if on this occasion Indonesia assisted Japan in its time of need.

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Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government is sending a disaster mitigation team and two million US dollars in aid to help Japan recover from its recent disaster, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said.

Speaking at a press conference with Japan`s Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Kikuta at the Foreign Affairs Ministry here Wednesday, Marty said the 11-member disaster mitigation team would depart on Thursday, March 17, 2010.

Along with the disaster mitigation team, the Indonesian government would send funds for disaster aid amounting to two million US dollars.

"Besides sending a disaster mitigation team that is to be dispatched tomorrow (Thursday, March 17) consisting of approximately 11 people from Indonesia, the Indonesian government has also decided to provide a two million US dollar donation or contribution to the Japanese people and government," said Marty.

Marty also said Indonesia was also helped by Japan every time it was hit by a natural disaster and it was very reasonable and appropriate if on this occasion Indonesia assisted Japan in its time of need.

"In situations like this where an extraordinary natural disaster has occurred, we must not think as a country only but also as one humanitarian act that move together hand in hand in cooperation to assist the revival of the Japanese people," said Marty.

The arrival of Japan`s Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Makiko Kikuta to Indonesia is to co-chair with Indonesia in the ASEAN Regional Forum Disaster Relief (ARF DiREx) which opened on Wednesday in Manado, North Sulawesi, and the "Priority Metropolitan Area" event, Kikuto is determined to make a success out of these two activities.

"In this visit I also met with Indonesian Vice President Boediono and a number of ministers who expressed their concerns and condolences for what happened in Japan," said Kikuta.

According to Kikuta, the Government of Japan highly appreciated Indonesian attitude in providing concrete assistance in the current Japanese situation where the situation is still chaotic after being hit by a 9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami.

The disaster is reported to cost almost 1000 casualties and about 2000 people are stated missing.

Until now the Indonesian government through its Embassy in Tokyo also had to deploy evacuation team for the citizens and to assist the Japanese government in overcoming the impact of natural disasters.

"I appreciate a lot for Indonesian support and assistance. Indonesia has managed to rise from some natural disaster that passed earlier, and then the people of Japan are also sure to rise again after this disaster," said Kikuta.

Editor: Heru

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Japan investment in RI will continue as scheduled despite tragedy: Minister

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 03/15/2011

Japan’s investment plans in Indonesia will continue as scheduled despite the recent massive earthquake and tsunami, a senior minister says.

That investment includes the US$24 billion Metropolitan Priority Area (MPA) infrastructure project in Greater Jakarta.

After speaking with Japan’s ambassador to Indonesia, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa said the “kick-off meeting” for the MPA project will be held on March 17 as scheduled.

Hatta said the powerful quake that struck Japan would not impede the recent investment commitments of a number of the country’s major companies.

“All of the programs that have been committed to by Japan will still be realized. So far, everything is still on track, nothing has been delayed. Geothermal, MRT, transportation projects, JBIC [Japan Bank for International Cooperation], all are still ongoing,” he said Monday.

A significant growth in investment helped push Indonesia’s economy to grow above expectations last year at 6.1 percent. Japan was the fourth largest foreign investor in Indonesia in 2010, with total investments worth $712.6 million.

The Japanese Chamber of Commerce’s delegates visited Indonesia last month and pledged to invest up to $60 billion for the development of several economic corridors in Java and Sumatra.

The investments will be directed to five main sectors: transportation and infrastructure, electricity, industrial areas, clean water and oil and gas, Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) chair Hiromasa Yonekura said.

Included in Japan’s investment commitments are Japanese car maker Astra Daihatsu Motor’s Rp 2.1 trillion plan to build a new factory in East Karawang, West Java, this year; Mitsubishi Corporation’s $18 billion investment program for various projects over the next five years; and the ¥2 trillion ($24 billion) deal between the Japanese government and private firms to finance the construction of infrastructure in Greater Jakarta and surrounding areas scheduled to commence in 2013.

“The key is Japan’s rehabilitation and reconciliation. We have suffered the same thing so we understand. And we appreciate Japan’s commitment to continue the MPA project,” Hatta said, referencing the devastating 2004 tsunami that killed more than 130,000 people in Aceh.

Last Friday, Japan was struck by a powerful 8.9-magnitude earthquake off the country’s northeast coast, which triggered a tsunami that has been estimated to have killed at least 10,000 people.

Edy Putra Irawady, the deputy to the coordinating minister for the Economy, said Japan might move some of its production factories overseas to Indonesia to ease business activity in the country in the midst of its post-disaster recovery.

“The officials said that Japan’s program and projects in Indonesia are still ongoing, in fact they are offering cooperation in the construction of trade facilities,” he said after meeting with Japanese authorities in Tokyo.

“The tsunami only affected the Sendai port and Yokohama — I was worried that the electricity shortage would affect production but it turns out that Japanese firms can move their production activities overseas, including to Indonesia,” Edy said.

Government officials, businessmen and economists have been worried about Indonesia’s investment prospects with Japan, saying it may take time for Japan’s economy to recover from the disaster, which heavily damaged basic infrastructure such as seaports, power plants and roads.

— JP/ Esther Samboh

Jakarta sinking fast in wake of construction boom

Hans David Tampubolon, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 02/07/2011

A recent study concluded that land subsidence in Jakarta accelerated at an alarming pace in the past four decades, and if no remedial measures were taken, the northern part of the city could sink below sea level in the next decade.

Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) researcher Heri Andreas said the persistent inundation of North Jakarta would only get worse in the future.

“Several areas in the northern coastal region of Jakarta will subside by 60 centimeters by 2020. In 2050, the area could sit 2.2 meters lower than in 2008,” said Heri, who is also a member of the Jakarta Coast Defense Strategy (JCDS).

Heri predicted that if no action was taken to mitigate land subsidence, flooding and high tides would contribute to 5,100 hectares of land in North Jakarta being submerged in 2020 and another 6,000 hectares in 2050.

A worst-case scenario, however, put the figures at 16,200 hectares in 2020 and 18,100 hectares in 2050.

“In this scenario, the northern coast of Jakarta could be 2 meters under water by 2020 and 6.9 meters under water by 2050,” Heri said.

Global sea levels have risen at a rate of about 1 to 2 millimeters per year on average, and this rate is expected to increase to 5 millimeters per year by 2050.

A recent study by ITB showed that the sea level in the Jakarta northern coastal region rose at a rate of 5.7 millimeters per year.

The most recent finding by the JCDS showed that around 40 percent of land in Jakarta was already below sea level.

Given the finding, the JCDS predicted that within between the next 10 to 20 years, 50 percent of the city would lie below sea level.

The JCDS data also showed that between 1974 and 2010, the Muara Karang area in North Jakarta had sunk 4.1 meters. West Cengkareng in Tangerang had sunk 2.5 meters in the same period.

The Daan Mogot area in West Jakarta and Ancol in North Jakarta sank 1.97 meters and 1.88 meters respectively in the same period.

Between 1974 and 1982, land subsidence rates were not as significant as today. The problem became worse after the region saw a construction boom in property and industry.

A number of dikes constructed by the city, including in Muara Angke, Muara Karang, Pluit, Cilincing and Marunda, are no longer capable of holding back the water that has increased rates of land subsidence.

Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo recently admitted that the city was sinking at an alarming rate.

“We have no other choice but to construct a new embankment in Jakarta Bay,” Fauzi said.

He said the city needed a giant seawall to protect the capital from flooding, but added that construction could only begin in 2025.

The construction of the seawall is a joint project run by the city administration and the JCDS, which is funded by the Dutch government.

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Indonesia Donates $1 Million for Australia Flood Relief

The Jakarta Globe, Nurfika Osman & AP | January 12, 2011

         

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Indonesia is donating $1 million to help the victims of the deadly floodwaters that have swept Queensland, Australia, Foreign Ministry spokesman Michael Tene told the Jakarta Globe on Wednesday.

An aerial view of partially submerged houses in flooded
 Rockhampton in Australia's state of Queensland. Indonesia
 has donated $1 million to Australia to help the flood victims.
 (Reuters Photo) 

"[Foreign] Minister Marty Natalegawa has contacted Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd this morning and the fund will be sent immediately," Michael said.

Regarding the condition of Indonesians in Brisbane, he said he has not received detailed information yet.

"But if others take refuge, I am sure they will do the same thing," he said.

Deadly floodwaters that have cut a swath across northeastern Australia flowed onto the streets of the nation's third-largest city Wednesday, forcing people to flee suburbs and skyscrapers as rescuers elsewhere searched for 67 people still missing.

Almost 20,000 homes in Brisbane were expected to be swamped in the city of about 2 million by the time the Brisbane River reaches its expected peak Thursday, Mayor Campbell Newman said.

The figures were constantly being revised as the threat became clearer and it was getting consistently worse.

At least 22 people have died in Australia's northeastern state of Queensland since drenching rains that began in November sent swollen rivers spilling over their banks, inundating an area larger than France and Germany combined.

Government Has a New Disaster Plan for the New Year

Jakarta Globe, Dessy Sagita | December 29, 2010

Following a series of major natural disasters in 2010 that claimed hundreds of lives, the government plans to shift its focus next year to programs aimed at minimizing fatalities, a minister has said.

Three incidents alone this year — flash floods in the West Papua town of Wasior, a tsunami in the Mentawai Islands and the eruption of Mount Merapi — killed around a thousand people in the space of a few weeks.

“There are some disasters we cannot prevent such as volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and earthquakes, however, we can do many things to minimize the losses,” Agung Laksono, the coordinating minister for people’s welfare, said during a press conference on Wednesday.

He said the most common disasters this year were floods and landslides, adding that human activity played a role in most of these incidents.

Next year, he added, the government will intensify efforts to educate the public about how they can protect themselves during a disaster.

“Children at school should know what they must do when disaster strikes,” he said. “It should be taught across the country as part of the curriculum.”

Regional governments should take the lead in this educational campaign, the minister said. Municipal authorities, he added, were obliged to inform residents about what to do and where to go in the case of an emergency.

He said the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) was responsible for leading the emergency response and post-disaster rehabilitation.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, BNBP’s director for disaster risk reduction, said focusing on disaster mitigation instead of emergency response was a relatively new idea that was being adopted by countries around the world.

Effective mitigation programs, he said, help save lives and minimize the financial losses from a disaster. He warned, however, that such programs required sizeable investments to set up.

“The government should earmark at least 4 percent from the state budget for disaster mitigation programs and emergency responses,” he said.

Agung said the government would allocate Rp 4 trillion ($444 million) for disaster management in 2011. That is a massive increase from this year’s Rp 500 billion.

He also said the response to this year’s three major disasters had been quicker and more efficient than in the past because of the establishment of two rapid-response units to help deliver emergency aid to victims.

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Army builds 775 houses of disaster victims

Antara News, Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Jakarta  (ANTARA News) - The Army is building 775 houses for natural disaster victims in seven provinces throughout Indonesia.

The head of the Military Headquarters Colonel Minulyo said here Monday the houses are built with cooperation of the Social Affairs Ministry.

He said the rehabilitation, reconstruction and relocation of the houses are for this year`s natural disaster victims in South Sulawesi, West Java, Central Java, North Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara, Central Sulawesi, West Nusa Tenggara, and West Nusa Tenggara.

Minulyo said the 775 houses are being built in several areas under the IIIrd Military Command, 307 houses, comprising 54 in West Bandung regency and 253 in Majalengka regency.

In the area under the IVth Military Command 51 houses are built, including 30 in Purworejo regency and 20 pct already completed, under the VIIth Military Command 331 houses, comprising 70 units in Sangihe Islands province in North Sulawesi and 6 pct completed, and 109 units in Parigi Moutong regency, Central Sulawesi with 8 percent of them completed, and 122 units in Palopo regency, South Sulawesi.

And in the area under the command of the IXth Military Command 44 units in Belu regency, East Nusa Tenggara with 67.4 pct completed, and 72 units in Bima regency, West Nusa Tenggara with 40 pct completed.

The rehabilitation and reconstruction, and relocation of houses of the natural disaster victims is carried out in 60 days starting from the IVth week of November 2010 until the fourth week of January 2011, involving military personnel, social services, regional administrations and the local population with funding from the social affairs ministry.

Australian support to help RI recover from disasters

Antara News, Friday, December 24, 2010

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Villages and homes will be rebuilt, burns victims will receive treatment, and communities will be better prepared following an additional $5.5 million from Australia to help Indonesia recover from the recent natural disasters.

According to an Australian Embassy media release in its official website on Friday, Ambassador Greg Moriarty said that Australia had been quick to respond with $2.1 million in emergency funds when Mount Merapi erupted and the tsunami in the Mentawai Islands killed more than 800 people and displaced hundreds of thousands.

This additional funding takes Australia`s total support to $7.6 million.

Australia`s further $5.5 million for the recovery phase will go towards:

• Grants to affected communities to help themselves - for example by rebuilding homes and local health clinics - through Indonesia`s National Program for Community Empowerment (PNPM).
  
  
• Non-Government Organizations to provide temporary shelter, livelihood and mental and physical health support activities in the Mount Merapi area. This will include providing equipment to assist burns victims.
  
  
• The Australia-Indonesia Facility for Disaster Reduction to survey, understand and document the actions taken by communities, governments and NGOs before, during and after the disasters that saved lives and minimized destruction.
  
  
• 600 family kits funded by the Australia-Indonesia Facility for Disaster Reduction to assist families in the Mentawai Islands with clothes, cooking equipment and hygiene items.

Moriarty said Australia`s further support will help minimize the impact of future disasters and save lives.

"Indonesia is now looking beyond the immediate response to longer-term recovery and rehabilitation. Australia is providing support to efforts on how Indonesia can better prepare for future disasters," Moriarty said.

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ADB $3 Million Grant to Help Victims of Indonesia's Volcano Eruption

Asian Development Bank (ADB) , 10 December 2010

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is extending $3 million to assist in aid efforts in the wake of the Mount Merapi volcano eruptions, which destroyed homes and displaced hundreds of thousands of people in Central Java province and Yogyakarta Special region in October and November 2010.

ADB's assistance will be used to build temporary shelter, normalization of public facilities (i.e. schools, health care, water and sanitation) and setting up a cash for work scheme for the refugees to clear debris.

More than 300 people were killed and over 400,000 people were forced to flee their homes because of the eruption, according to the Indonesian Agency for Disaster Management. Many evacuees have left the evacuation points to return home after the government downgraded the alert level of the volcano in early December, more than five weeks since it began erupting. The government warned, however, that there was still a danger of volcanic mud flooding homes and properties.

"There are still thousands of families who cannot return to their villages because they were destroyed by the volcanic eruption," said ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda. "ADB will do whatever it can to support the government's efforts to provide them with temporary shelters and other essentials they need."

The $3 million grant is being provided under ADB's emergency facility, the Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund, which provides quick-disbursing grants to help restore essential life-saving services following disasters.

ADB is coordinating its aid efforts with the Government of Indonesia, the United Nations and other development partners.

About ADB

Govt to bear tsunami victims` living cost

Antara News, Friday, December 3, 2010   

Padang, W Sumatra (ANTARA News) - The government plans to bear the living cost of tsunami victims in the Mentawai Islands until the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts have been completed, an official said.

"The living cost of each tsunami victim has been projected to reach Rp6,000 per day. The maximum number of people in each family entitled to receive such assistance is five. The government will bear the living cost of tsunami victims for one month," Head of the West Sumatra Provincial Social Service Kafrawi said on Thursday.

The government will start bearing the living cost of tsunami victims as of early January 2011, he said adding the local authorities are in the middle of registering recipients of such assistance.

"We ask the Mentawai district administration to send a list of recipients to the West Sumatra governor as soon as possible so that we can quickly pass it on to the Social Service Ministry," he said on the sidelines of a meeting between West Sumatra

Governor Irwan Prayitno and Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Chairman Jusuf Kalla here.

He said his office recently held a meeting with the Social Service to discuss the living cost and the ministry had given the green light to bear the living cost of tsunami victims.

"We hope the plan can be realized according to the schedule so it can alleviate the economic burden of the tsunami victims in the islands," he said.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) stated the big earthquake followed by a tsunami in Mentawai Islands had affected a large number of villages and caused 408 deaths, 303 people to go missing and 270 others to sustain severe injuries.

The number of affected people was initially estimated at 33,817. However, many islands had become inaccessible and the number of potentially affected people could be over 65,000.

Thailand donates US$100,000 for Mentawai tsunami victims

Antara News, Wednesday, December 1, 2010 16:59 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Thai government here Wednesday presented Indonesia with a cash donation of US$100,000 meant to help the victims of the tsunami that hit the Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra, last Oct 25.

According to a press release received here on Wednesday Thai Ambassador to Indonesia Thanatip Upatising symbolically handed over the funds to Indonesian Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Triyono Wibowo on Wednesday.

A two-meter tsunami triggered by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the islands off the western coast of Sumatra on October 25.

Recent research conducted by Indonesian and Japanese tsunami experts had concluded that the tsunami in Mentawai Islands had moved at a speed of 800 km per hour at sea.

"Based on the results of research conducted by tsunami experts from LIPI, Tokyo University and Hokkaido University, the tsunami at Maonai, Sabeuguggung, Purorougat, North Pagai, had moved at a speed of 800 kilometers per hour at sea and at 30-40 kilometers per hour after land fall ," an earthquake specialist of LIPI`s geotechnology division, , Eko Yulianto, said.

The tsunami surged over a distance of 100-250 meters inland , depending on the height of the tidal wave, he said.

"The height of the tidal wave that hit North Pagai was around six to seven meters," he said.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) stated the big earthquake followed by a tsunami in Mentawai Islands had affected a large number of villages and caused 408 deaths, 303 people to go missing and 270 others to sustain severe injuries.

The affected population was initially estimated at 33,817 persons. However, many islands had become inaccessible and the number of potentially affected people could be over 65,000.

Meanwhile, the government said it would provide temporary shelters for the tsunami victims while waiting for the reconstruction of the Mentawai islands area. The construction of the temporary shelters was expected to be finished next December.

"The shelters are located around 30-40 meters from the coastline. So, if a tsunami occurs again, people will be safe," Social Affairs Minister Salim Segaf Al-Jufri said.

Taiwan donates $50,000 for Merapi victims

Antara News, Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Taiwan has donated US$50,000 in fund to the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) to rehabilitate areas affected by the Mount Merapi eruptions.

Andrew Hsia of the Taipei Economic and Trade Office (Teto) in Jakarta handed the aid to PMI chairman Yusuf Kalla recently, Teto said in a press statement on Tuesday.

Hsia expressed hope the aid would be helpful for the PMI to continue rehabilitating disaster-hit areas to allow the affected people to resume a normal life.Kalla said he was thankful for the aid and pledged to use it properly.

"We all know Java is the most populous island. Whenever a disaster occurs it claims many lives. The reconstruction of the affected areas will need a long time and cost a sizable amount of funds," he said.

Mt Merapi, the world`s most active volcano, had erupted repeatedly in the past two or three weeks but its most fatal eruptions occurred on Oct 26 and Nov 5.

At least 259 people had perished and many others sustained burns and became displaced in the eruptions.

The total number of refugees being sheltered in 639 refugee centers in Yogyakarta and Central Java reportedly reached 367,548.

The volcano`s eruptions spewed hot clouds of ash and lava into the air and sent lava down its many slopes.

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RI Software Developers Invited to Help Solve Humanitarian Issues

Antara News, Saturday, November 27, 2010 15:43 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s top software engineers are invited to participate in the the Jakarta-leg of Random Hacks of Kindness global event which is to be hosted by the Australia-Indonesia Facility for Disaster Reduction on December 4-5, 2010.

A media release from Australian Embassy in its official website said on Saturday that the event would bring together software engineers and disaster management experts for a 48-hour "hackathon."

The participants will create software solutions to improve responses to natural disasters, reduce their impact and help save lives.

Random Hacks of Kindness will take place simultaneously in 20 cities around the world.

The Jakarta event is supported by the Australian Government, Indonesia`s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and DailySocial.net.

Dr Matt Hayne, the Co-Director of the Australia-Indonesia Facility for Disaster Reduction, said he was proud to host the third global "hackathon."

"Indonesia is extremely prone to natural hazards, so this is an important event," Hayne said.

"It will bring together some of Indonesia`s brightest software engineers to help us develop innovative solutions to disaster management problems," he added.

The hackathon concept was developed by Google, Microsoft, Yahoo!, NASA and The World Bank.

The first event was held in California in November 2009 and resulted in applications used on the ground during the devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile.

The winning application from the second hackathon, from Washington D.C, helped engineers visualize landslide-risks to help guide urban and rural planning and development.

To register for the Jakarta-leg of Random Hacks of Kindness visit: http://www.rhok.org/events/rhok-2/.

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US praises how RI handles Merapi eruptions

Antara News, Thursday, November 25, 2010 20:43 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The United States has commended the ways in which Indonesia handled the impacts of the recent Mount Merapi eruptions in one of Central Java`s most densely populated rural areas where a minimum number of casualties occurred.

The praise was given through the head of the US Volcanological Disaster Assistance Program (VDAP) chief, John S Pallister, and US Ambassador to Indonesia Scot Alan Merciel during a meeting with Vice President Boediono here Thursday, said Yopie Hidayat, the vice president`s spokesman.

"The handling (of the impacts) by the government has been rated excellent as thousands of residents around the mountain were saved," Yopie said.

He made the statement to the media after accompanying the vice-president at the meeting with the two US officials. Pallister conducted research on Mt Merapi in 2006.

Yopie quoted Pallister as saying that the efforts of Dr. Surono, head of Indonesia`s Volcanological and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG), in monitoring the volcano`s activities had been very accurate and quick so that the number of casualties could be kept at a minimum.

Although VDAP was equipped with the most sophisticated instruments available for monitoring active volcanoes, its personnel intended to learn from Indonesia about the handling of the impacts of volcanic eruptions, Pallister told Boediono, accoridng to Yopie.

"This is possible because Indonesia has so many active volcanoes that it is deemed highly experienced in monitoring volcanic activity," Yopie said, noting that Indonesia lay in a part of the so-called "Pacific ring of fire", with its main islands hosting 129 active volcanoes, including Merapi on Java island.

At the meeting with the vice president, the VDAP, an agency under the US Department of Interior, donated sophisticated volcano monitoring equipment valued at 241,000 US dollars to replace equipment incinerated during Mt Merapi`s recent eruptions.

Mount Merapi began its series of deadly eruptions on 26 October 2010 and calmed down in mid November. Seismic activity around the volcano increased from mid-September onwards, culminating in repeated outbursts of lava and ashes. Large eruption columns formed, causing numerous pyroclastic flows down the heavily populated slopes of the volcano.

Merapi`s eruption was evaluated by central and provincial authorities to be the largest since the 1870s when the volcano that is located amid two provinces, Yogyakarta and Central Java, where live about 1.5 million people.

At least 275 people were killed during the latest eruptions, many as a result of pyroclastic flows that have also displaced over 350,000 people.

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Govt to disburse Rp 500b for reconstruction of Wasior, Mentawai

Erwida Maulia, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 11/22/2010 8:19 PM

The government will disburse a total of Rp 509 billion (approximately US$57 million) for rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in disaster-struck Wasior in West Papua and the Mentawai archipelago in West Sumatra.

Secretary to the Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare Indroyono Soesilo said Monday the government would allocate Rp 141 billion for Wasior and Rp 368 billion for Mentawai. Wasior is recovering from a crippling flash flood, while the Mentawai Islands are dealing with the impacts of a powerful tsunami. Both disasters occurred last month.

“The funds will come from the state and regional budgets. We will start to move on January 1,” Indroyono said after a Cabinet meeting at the Vice Presidential Office held to discuss disaster relief in Wasior, Mentawai and around Mount Merapi.

The total estimated financial losses caused by the flash flood in Wasior and the tsunami in Mentawai were Rp 280 billion and Rp 315 billion, respectively, he added.

Rehabilitation and reconstruction activities include the construction of temporary housing, basic infrastructure and restoring economic and social activities, Indroyono said.

Financial losses and rehabilitation and reconstruction needs for areas around Mount Merapi could not yet be estimated because the volcano was still erupting, he said.

Radios for Refugees

Tempo Interactive, Thursday, 18 November, 2010

TEMPO Interactive, Yogyakarta:An agribusiness company, Wilmar Foundation, has donated 2.000 radios and batteries to refugees of the recent Mount Merapi eruption.

The radios were handed by Wilmar Group’s Commissioner, M.P. Tumanggor, to Yogyakarta governor, represented by Murprih Antoro Nugroho, the National Welfare and Community Protection Chief, yesterday.

“We hope the refugees will get the right information from the radio,” said Murprih. He said the National Disaster Management Agency and the Radio Republic Indonesia (RRI) had launched the Merapi Radio station last Sunday.

PITO AGUSTIN RUDIANA

China Harbour donates Rp 500m to disaster survivors

Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 11/19/2010

China Harbour Engineering Co. Ltd, a China-based Infrastructure construction company, donated Friday Rp 500 million (US$56,000) in funds to disaster survivors.

"This donation will assist survivors of disasters in Indonesia," Liu Guo Fang, the deputy general manager of China Harbour Engineering, said on Thursday in Jakarta.

The company is donating Rp 500 million in total. Rp 100 million will be disbursed to tsunami survivors in Nias, while Merapi and Wasior flood survivors will receive Rp 200 million respectively.

Zhang Qiyue, the People's Republic of China to Indonesia ambassador, said previously that China had contributed US$1.5 million to disaster survivors in two phases.

Timor Leste donates one million US dollar for disaster victims

Antara News, Thursday, November 18, 2010 14:59 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Democratic Republic of Timor Leste has provided donation worth one US million dollars for victims of the Wasior flash flood, Mentawai tsunami and Merapi eruption.

The Timor Leste government represented by Social Solidarity Minister Maria Dominggas Fernandes and Deputy Minister of Finance Rui Manuel Hamjam presented the assistance to Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono, Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih and Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Triyono wibowo at Minister Laksono`s office, here, Thursday.

Minister Maria Dominggas Fernandes on the occasion said the government and people of Timor Leste expressed deep sympathy for the natural disasters which have hit several parts of Indonesia lately.

The one-million-dollar assistance was to demonstrate Timor Leste`s solidarity toward the victims of the disasters.

"Our presence here is on a special mission assigned by Prime Minister Kayrala Xanana Gusmao and to show a determination of the Timor Leste`s people to help Indonesia," he said.

She said her country has been following the developments on the recent disasters in Indonesia from the media reports.

Minister Agung Laksono said the Indonesian government appreciated the assistance provided by the Timor Leste government.

The donation would be use for rehabilitation and reconstruction works in the disaster-hit regions.

The minister hoped that Timor Leste`s assistance could strengthen the bilateral relations between Indonesia and Timor Leste.