Press Release
U. S. Government Assists in Mount Merapi Emergency Response
Yogyakarta |
Thursday, May 18, 2006
U. S. Government Assists in Mount Merapi Emergency Response
Today, the U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), provided an additional US$50,000 to support emergency efforts in response to volcanic activity at Mount Merapi. With this addition, total U.S. Government assistance for emergency interventions in response to Mount Merapi stands at US$100,000.
On Saturday, May 13, the Indonesian Volcano Technology Development and Research Agency (BPPTK) raised the alert level at Mount Merapi from level three to level four, the highest alert level. The raised alert level is an indication that an eruption of Mt. Merapi may be imminent, and triggers the evacuation of residents living in at-risk areas around the volcano. At least 80,000 people may be affected by an eruption. As of Monday, May 15, approximately 10,000 residents had been evacuated, according to the Indonesian Red Cross/Palang Merah Indonsia (PMI). The USAID contribution will enable PMI to meet the emergency needs of the evacuees through the procurement and transportation of critical items such as blankets, tents, plastic sheeting, and water.
In addition to these monetary donations, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), through its USAID-funded Volcano Disaster Assistance Program, provided technical support and training to local Indonesian volcanologists, as well as four telemetered, solar-powered electronic tilt stations, a solar-powered repeater station, and base station equipment for installation at Mount Merapi. The equipment allows the Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (a directorate under the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources) to better monitor ongoing volcanic activity at Merapi and forecast summit instability.
USAID is the U.S. Government agency that is responsible for worldwide development and humanitarian assistance. The governments of the United States and Indonesia recently signed several agreements representing US$963 million in assistance over the next five years for programs that support Indonesia’s democratic transition, economic growth, educational reform, and the delivery of basic human services. USAID also provides significant humanitarian and food assistance for internally displaced persons and victims of natural disasters.
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Pemerintah A.S. Bantu Upaya Penyelamatan Darurat Gunung Merapi
Hari ini, Pemerintah A.S., melalui Badan Pembangunan Internasional A.S. (USAID) memberikan bantuan tambahan senilai 50.000 dolar AS untuk mendukung upaya penyelamatan darurat menghadapi aktivitas vulkanis Gunung Merapi. Dengan penambahan ini, total bantuan Pemerintah A.S. untuk tindakan darurat menghadapi Gunung Merapi mencapai 100.000 dolar AS.
Pada hari Sabtu, 13 Mei, Balai Penyelidikan dan Pengembangan Teknik Kegunungapian (BPPTK) meningkatkan status kesiagaan di Gunung Merapi dari tingkat tiga ke tingkat empat, yang merupakan tingkat kesiagaan tertinggi. Peningkatan status kesiagaan ini merupakan indikasi bahwa letusan Gunung Merapi diperkirakan semakin dekat, serta memicu evakuasi penduduk yang tinggal di wilayah-wilayah berisiko tinggi di sekitar gunung tersebut. Sekurangnya 80.000 orang dapat terkena dampak dari letusan. Menurut Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI), sampai hari Senin, 15 Mei, sekitar 10.000 penduduk telah dievakuasi. Kontribusi USAID akan memungkinkan PMI menyediakan kebutuhan darurat para pengungsi melalui pengadaan serta pengiriman berbagai perlengkapan penting seperti selimut, tenda, kantong plastik, dan air.
Selain sumbangan finansial tersebut di atas, Badan Survey Geologi A.S. (USGS), melalui Program Bantuan Bencana Gunung Berapi-nya yang didanai oleh USAID, memberikan bantuan teknis serta pelatihan bagi para ahli vulkanologi Indonesia, berikut empat buah alat pemantau elektronik tenaga surya, sebuah alat komunikasi tenaga surya, dan sejumlah peralatan untuk pusat pengendali utama yang dipasang di Gunung Merapi. Peralatan ini memungkinkan Pusat Penanganan Bahaya Vulkanologi dan Geologi (sebuah direktorat di bawah Departemen Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral) untuk dapat memantau aktivitas Gunung Merapi dan meramalkan ketidakstabilan puncak gunung secara lebih baik.
USAID adalah badan Pemerintah A.S. yang bertanggung jawab menyalurkan bantuan kemanusiaan dan pembangunan di seluruh dunia. Pemerintah A.S. dan Indonesia baru-baru ini menandatangani sejumlah perjanjian bantuan senilai 963 juta dolar AS untuk masa lima tahun bagi program-program yang mendukung transisi demokrasi, pertumbuhan ekonomi, reformasi pendidikan, dan pelayanan dasar kemanusiaan di Indonesia. USAID juga memberikan bantuan kemanusiaan dan pangan bagi orang-orang terlantar dan korban bencana alam di tanah air.