INDONESIA: UN PREPARES EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO EXPECTED VOLCANIC ERUPTION

INDONESIA: UN PREPARES EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO EXPECTED VOLCANIC ERUPTION
New York, Oct 18 2007 4:00PM
United Nations relief officials in Indonesia have begun mobilizing staff and emergency medical supplies in eastern Java, where the eruption of Mount Kelud volcano is believed to be imminent.

UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters today that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (<"http://ochaonline.un.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1080">OCHA) is closely monitoring the situation after the Government recommended on Tuesday that locals evacuate the area immediately.

The World Health Organization (<"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/en/">WHO) has mobilized 100 medical professionals, placed 200 health facilities on alert and established 41 outreach health posts in anticipation of the eruption. Emergency health kits, masks and other essential equipment are also in place.

UN humanitarian agencies are also taking part in assessment missions, Ms. Montas said.

WHO reported that some 116,000 people who had been living within 10 kilometres of Mount Kelud in either Kidiri or Biltar districts have already been evacuated, although some people in relatively low-risk areas have since been allowed to return to their homes because the volcanic activity has slowed.
2007-10-18 00:00:00.000

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