An IOM-chartered cargo vessel with the capacity to carry up to 50
tons of relief items today began to operate between Padang in
Sumatra and Sikakap in the Mentawai islands.

A powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter Scale
triggered a tsunami in the three Mentawai islands on 25 October,
leaving at least 431 people dead and devastating southern and
western coastal villages.

Two weeks after the disaster very little aid has reached the
area due to bad weather that made access to the remote area by boat
and helicopter very difficult.

According to IOM staff on the ground, almost 100 percent of the
population were displaced on Pagai Selatan and Pagai Utara islands.
Most people moved to highlands – making distribution of aid
particularly difficult due to lack of road access.

IOM took part in an assessment mission following the disaster
and is sending four large tents (rub halls) to Sikakap to serve as
warehouses for relief goods.

The Humanitarian Aid department of the European Commission
(ECHO) has provided IOM with funding to provide logistics and
transport for the government and up to 60 local and international
relief agencies bringing aid into the islands over the next three
months.

The US Agency for International Development's Office of Foreign
Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is also expected to support aid
distribution by providing IOM with small boats that can reach
remote communities, many of which are only accessible by water.

ECHO will also support health assistance for up 1,000 people,
including psychosocial support and basic hygiene and disease
prevention training. It will also support the training of up to 100
health workers, teachers and community leaders in psychosocial
first aid.

For more information please contact:

Peter Kern

IOM Padang

E-mail: pkern@iom.int

Tel: +62 8118702289