PRESS RELEASE (PR: 08)
Jakarta, 26 January 2005

The British Government has increased assistance to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Aceh and North Sumatra on 26 December. So far, over USD 57 million (£30 million) has been spent on a wide variety of humanitarian relief projects in Indonesia and other badly affected countries.

In Indonesia these funds have been used for urgent emergency relief. Among other items, the UK has helped to establish and equip the UN base camp in Banda Aceh. The British Government has also provided 3,750 tents for use by internally displaced persons and deployed five helicopters to deliver aid to isolated communities. Funds have also been used to purchase emergency health kits for the World Health Organisation, and to prevent the outbreak of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.

British Ambassador Charles Humfrey said “The majority of British assistance for Aceh and North Sumatra has been given as grants to NGOs and international institutions such as the UN Agencies and World Bank to help them fund their essential activities in the stricken areas. Among the many organisations we have enabled to provide assistance are the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, UNDP, Red Cross, Red Crescent, Oxfam, and Save the Children. One of very good initiatives we are funding is over $1.5 million for an NGO called Mentor Initiative which is providing urgently needed mosquito control in Banda Aceh and down the west coast of Aceh to prevent the spread of malaria and dengue fever.”

Notes for editors:

1. A list of projects funded by the British Government is attached. This list will be updated regularly as pledged funds are allocated to various projects and organisations.

2. The British Government has so far pledged USD 143 million (£75 million) for post-tsunami relief and recovery in the region. On top of that, the British public has pledged over USD 380 million (£200 million) in private donations.

3. For further information at the British Embassy please contact Edith Loupatty at (021) 315 6264, mobile: 0816 190 2064.


ANNEX 1: UK GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO TSUNAMI IN INDONESIA - 24/01/05

UK Government Pledges:

• £75m for relief and recovery in the tsunami-affected region. £30.2 m has been committed to date.

Support to UN for Core Co-ordination activities:

• Provision of vehicles, equipment and airlift, for International Humanitarian Partnership's (IHP) UN base camp in Banda Aceh. This is a joint DFID-Finland-Sweden-Norway-Denmark operation. Arrived and operational in Banda Aceh.

• Provision of vehicles, equipment, water purification tablets and airlift for UN 'Humanitarian Information Centre' (HIC). Operational in Banda Aceh.

• Procurement and delivery of 15 Land Rovers to OCHA.ETA Medan: 24/01/05

Support to UN/Government of Indonesia (GOI) for relief operations:

Personnel and in-kind donations from DFID

• Purchase and delivery of 10 emergency health kits for World Health Organisation (WHO). To provide basic medical supplies for 100,000 people for 3 months.

Arrived Banda Aceh 05/01/05

• Procurement of 3,750 tents for UN Development Programme (UNDP). In transit by sea ex K.L to Medan. ETA:20/01/05.

• Ongoing procurement of 20,000 body bags, consigned to TNI.

• Provision of 5 Land Rovers to UNSECOORD. Arrived Jakarta.

• Provision of fuel bladders, pumps and pre-fabricated warehousing to UN in Banda Aceh.

• Funding to UN for 2 local GIS specialists to work in VP's disaster mgmt centre, Jakarta.

• Deployment of 3 Puma helicopters to Subang, Malaysia. Awaiting onward tasking by WFP/UNHAS. ETA: tbc.

• Deployment of 2 Mi17s. Currently being repainted in Moldova and awaiting onward tasking by WFP/UNHAS. ETA: tbc.

Military assets & personnel

• Deployment of 6 person CIMIC team to Medan.
• Deployment of 4 perosn CIMIC team to Banda Aceh.
• Deployment of 4 person mobile air movements team to Banda Aceh.
• Deployment of 26 persons & 2 Huey helicopters to Banda Aceh.
• Supply of tactical fuel handling equipment to UNJLC, Meulaboh. ETA Medan: 24/01/05
• (Secondment of 2 logistical planners to UNJLC ended today).
• Discussion ongoing re Bailey bridges.

Funding to UN, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)/International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) & NGOs:

UN

• £3m: WHO's regional appeal
• £4m: UNICEF'S regional appeal - for water and sanitation activities.
• £2.25m: UNICEF's appeal for Sri Lanka and Indoensia - for child protection activities.
• £1m: Internatioanl Organisation of Migration (IOM)'s appeal for Indonesia
• £2m: WFP EMOP for Indonesia
• £1m: WFP SO's (x2) for regional operations.
• £300,000: UNSECOORD's appeal for Indonesia.
• £600,000: FAO's Special Fund for Emergency & Relief Activities for regional activities.
• £400,000: UNHCR's appeal for Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

ICRC/IFRC

• £2m: IFRC's regional appeal
• £1m : ICRC's appeal for Indonesia.

NGOs:

Programme Funding

• £870,000 for Mentor Initiative, for vector control (malaria & dengue fever) for 580,000 persons in Aceh province.

• 327,250 for Internatioanl Medical Corps (IMC) for health activities in Indonesia.


DFID support to Disaster Emergencies Committee (DEC) flights to Indonesia:

Oxfam - 3 arilifts: £274,179
Christian Aid - 3 airlifts: £335,860
Save the Children Alliance - 1 airlift: £223,214
Merlin 3 airlifts: £11,869