| PROGRAMMES: | | YOGYAKARTA | | | |
  YOGYAKARTA Background
An earthquake measuring 6.2 hit Yogyakarta and Central Java Provinces on 27th May 2006 followed by two volcanic eruptions of Mount Merapi. The epicentre was 15km south west of Yogyakarta.
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| The most affected areas were Solo, Yogyakarta, Pati and some parts of Semarang, with Bantul being the worst affected, where 80 percent of homes were destroyed, 2,300 people killed and 3,400 hurt. At least 350,000 homes have been destroyed in Yogyakarta and Central Java Provinces. |
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The Crisis/Threat
Dengue fever is generally endemic in most of Indonesia while malaria is thought to be endemic to the eastern part of the country. An effective anti-malaria campaign over the last five years in the Yogyakarta area has meant that infection numbers have been relatively low. |
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| However, natural disasters often bring sharp rises in vulnerability; sprayed homes are ruined, insecticide treated nets (ITNs) previously distributed are now lost or destroyed and access to effective disease diagnosis and treatment is temporarily halted. In this setting the earthquake affected population is very vulnerable and quickly needs both provision of essential shelter and basic protective measures to be re-established. |
| The total number of displaced people was over 400,000. The MENTOR Initiative are distributing 16,500 Insecticide Treated Plastic Sheets (ITPS) and worked with affected communities to build new medium term homes for approximately 17,500 people. These homes protect from vectors of disease as well as provide shelter and have been very well received. In addition The MENTOR Initiative constructed temporary health facilities, community building and a school also using ITPS. |
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| At the same time the MENTOR Initiative implemented large scale larviciding of ponds, ditches and other surface water mosquito breeding areas to reduce dengue fever. Large scale indoor residual spraying (IRS) of homes further reduced the risk of malaria transmission for many thousands of others. |
| Emergency community programmes were implemented to clear earthquake debris that was producing deal breeding sites for dengue fever and malaria vectors. Sewers, drains and other water bodies blocked with rubbish have been cleared to ensure flow of water or drainage of surface water where ever this presented a risk for vector breeding sites. Large scale community education and one or other means of protection, has reached almost 100,000 people through this emergency response and doubtless saved many lives and significantly improved the speed of recovery from this crisis. |
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