Media Releases > Oxfam Ireland Press Release Media Releases > Oxfam Ireland Press Release
Oxfam sends supplies and assessment team to Tsunami affected Java coast
18th July 2006
International agency Oxfam today dispatched four truck loads of hygiene kits and water and sanitation supplies to Tsunami hit Pangandaran and Ciamis Districts in West Java, after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake occurred beneath the sea off the coast of West Java at 3:19 pm local time Monday 17 July.
A team of six from Oxfam's humanitarian base in Yogyakarta is assessing needs of the survivors today.
David Macdonald, Oxfam's Country Programme Manager for Indonesia
"We're concerned that many people will have fled their homes, which could have been destroyed in the Tsunami. Our humanitarian team is on the ground today, and we have water and sanitation supplies in place ready to respond. The local population rely on wells for fresh water supplies, and these could have been contaminated by the wall of sea water that crashed into the coastal towns."
Background Information
Death toll/Displaced: Indonesia Local Government Officials are reporting up to 100 killed in one district alone. Exact figures for those killed or displaced are not yet available.
Location; Waves up to 1.5 m / 5 feet high crashed into Pangandaran Beach near Ciamis town, 270km/170 miles southeast of Jakarta. The areas worst affected are the Pangandaran and Ciamis Districts in West Java . Ciamis District has 90 km of coastline
Humanitarian Needs / Access:
Our assessment team will be reporting back later this evening local time. The team were sent from Oxfam's Indonesia humanitarian response HQ in Yogyakarta about 160 km / 5-6 hour drive to the Tsunami affected area. Two trucks from Oxfam's Indonesia partner JARNOP left at 2 am local time Tuesday 18 July with 1000 hygiene kits, a further 2 trucks left at 8 am local time Tuesday 18 July with water and sanitation equipment including Oxfam buckets. [Photographs of trucks leaving available shortly]
For further information please contact:
Oxfam Ireland 's Media Executive Paul Dunphy on + 353 1 6040706
or email paul.dunphy [at] oxfamireland.org.
Spokesperson: Oxfam's Country Programme Manager David Macdonald is available for interviews from Jakarta.
Please contact Oxfam's Gemma Swart in Bangkok +66 1 814 7756 to arrange an interview