INDONESIAN CHILDREN TO BE VACCINATED AGAINST MEASLES AS PART OF UN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF

NEW YORK, 6 June (OCHA) -- The United Nations and partners are continuing to support the Government of Indonesia in responding to the needs created by the 27 May earthquake.  According to national authorities, that earthquake has claimed more than 5800 lives and caused more than 37,000 injuries.  Nearly 85,000 homes have been completely destroyed and a further 323,000 have suffered damage.

As part of the response in the health sector, approximately 130,000 children under 5 will be vaccinated against measles and given vitamin A supplements in an immunization campaign to begin Wednesday, 7 June.  The national, provincial and district health departments will conduct the campaign with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Within the water and sanitation sector, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and partners have set up emergency latrines at the Bantul internally displaced persons camp and around field hospitals.  However, UNICEF continues to seek partners to implement sanitation projects in Klaten District.  Additionally, while there are plans to provide 20,000 emergency toilets in Yogyakarta, some 32,000 are needed and the gap needs to be bridged urgently.

Water trucking and distribution of jerrycans are continuing.  Some 250,000 litres of clean drinking water are being trucked in daily.  About 36,000 jerrycans have been distributed to date, and another 155,000 are on the way.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has provided more than 170 metric tons of fortified biscuits and noodles for distribution to more than 170,000 people in Bantul and Klaten Districts.  An emergency food needs assessment is currently under way to examine household food security.

Government officials have also recommended today the evacuation of nearby communities, as volcanic activity at Mount Merapi continues to increase.  The lava dome is now about 3 million cubic metres and its growing by more than 100,000 cubic metres per day.

For further information, please call:  Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; Kristen Knutson, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 9262; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570.  OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.

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For information media • not an official record