5 October 2009
JAKARTA, Indonesia: UNFPA, immediately following the earthquake, has deployed 2 humanitarian staff for rapid assessment and emergency response in West Sumatra province, which was hit by the 7.6 Richter Scale magnitude earthquake on 30 September, killing 715 people and injuring 2,400 others. The estimated number of damage houses is between 70,000 to 90,000. UNFPA estimates that 30,000 women need immediate assistance for urgent reproductive health services and psycho-social counseling. As its immediate response, the Fund has shipped emergency items, such as, kits for babies, pregnant women and mothers who have delivered babies. The supplies also include hygiene kits and midwifery kits. The Fund has allocated US$100,000 to support 15 Puskesmas and 2 hospitals and to provide psycho-social support to affected women.


UNFPA staff, together with the UN team, are conducting rapid assessment in liaison with local administration for humanitarian supports. The Fund’s supports will focus on reducing the vulnerability of women and girls, especially those who are pregnant or in labor in the hard-hit areas: Padang and Pariaman cities and Padang-Pariaman district.

The midwifery kits are particularly useful for local midwives to provide safe maternal services for the affected women.
The 30 September earthquake off the coast of the province seriously affected Padang and Pariaman cities and Padang-Pariaman district, heavily damaging houses and buildings. According to the National Coordinating Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB), the number of casualties is expected to increase as 4 days after the disaster thousands are still trapped under damaged buildings. The earthquake also severely disrupted electricity and communication services and cut off access from Padang city to Padang Pariaman district.

The Government has announced 2 months of emergency phase and international organizations have come in to provide humanitarian supports.

We are already out there and we are working in close collaboration and coordination with the local administration, UN agencies and other international donors and organizations to ensure a well-targeted assistance and supports, ” said UNFPA Representative Dr. Zahidul Huque.

Only a day after the West Sumatra quake, the neighboring Jambi province was also rattled by a 7 Richter Scale magnitude earthquake with one reported death, 26 injured and 710 houses damaged.

For further information please contact:
Maria Endah Hulupi
UNFPA Communications Officer: 0812 1115 116