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We've asked Sherry to jot down some of her experiences as she travels throughout Southeast Asia helping animals that are in need because of massive natural disasters. Click here for a listing of all of her diaries.
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Fast Links to: 1. Jogyakarta Earthquake (below) |
1. Jogyakarta Earthquake
HSI Response
27th May 2006, Saturday
HSI Disaster Response assessment teams have been on the ground in Jogyakarta, Bentul and Klaten since Sunday 28th May, one day after the 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck the already fragile area. So far over 5,000 people have lost their lives in this tragic disaster. Jogyakarta has been in the world news for the past two weeks following the activity and immanent collapse of the volcano Mt. Merapi, HSI has been monitoring the situation through partner Yudisthira based in neighbouring island of Bali.
Yudisthira is a nationally recognised animal welfare NGO and is well networked throughout the country, their easy contacts and local knowledge of the area has proved key to the preliminary assessments.
HSI assessments quickly added focus to the earthquake regions in Jogyakarta and Bentul approximately 50k south of the volcano. The Indonesian way of life is dependant upon their animals, especially livestock and the loss of their animals at such a devastating time is a double blow. “Animals are valued and are owned, the people just need time to get on their feet and still have animals and a livelihood to come back to” noted Yudisthira I Wayan Mudiarta, Coordinator for Yudisthira’s Farm Animal team.
Animals expected to be affected by this disaster include cattle, goats, chickens and ducks.
It doesn’t rain but it pours…
Preliminary assessments have found that there is need to help animals who have survived the earthquake and are now left without guardians to provide adequate food or water, shelters for the animals have also been destroyed and in the two days of rains following the earthquake the need for action has intensified. Immediate action is also needed to provide first aid and medical care to injured and distressed animals who currently have no support.
Sherry Grant, HSI Disaster Response commented, “Animals in this area were not in 100% [condition] pre-earthquake and the animals today just don’t have enough of their body’s resources to get them through a period without food and water.”
HSI are currently collecting research and background data and once this is complete a full plan of action will be decided on how to help the animals and their people, keeping livelihoods, sustenance and animal welfare as key objectives. Yudisthira are eager to support their country-men in this effort and are on stand-by preparing basic first aid, and sourcing suitable feed and potable water for the animals of this disaster. Shelter for the animals and suitable housing will be designed depending on materials available.
HSI and Yudisthira have partnered and responded to several disasters within the Asia region including the Indian Ocean tsunami covering Aceh – Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Cyclones in India’s East Coast area. HSI have also responded to the earthquake in Pakistan at the end of 2005. HSI aim to eliminate suffering and create a stable and sustainable world for all animals. All programmes HSI are involved in attempt to transcend all cultures and religions and work for animals and their people.
Assessment Team
2nd June 2006, Friday
5 days post earthquake and HSI deploys Dr Rai of Yudisthira in Bali, to join Gunawan Prasetyo who has been in the field since the earthquake struck.
Dr Rai has worked for Yudisthira for the past five years, an adept surgeon and teaching vet, Rai has also worked in disaster situations in Thailand, Sri Lanka and India over the past 17 months. “Rai is one of our best team members and a natural leader she has good communication skills and that is very important during these first assessment visits,” noted Dr Listriani, Co-Founder of Yudisthira.
The devastating earthquake that has torn JAVA apart with the initial impact, the displacement of people and has deeply affected the Island – one of Indonesia’s largest and home to approx. 112 million people, that’s 600 per square Km, one of the highest population densities in the world. Jogyakarta itself is home to 3 million people and approx 70 000 in the vicinity of Mt. Merapi – the volcano feared greatly pre-earthquake. Mt Merapi is 30Km north of Joygyakarta and has tripled in activity levels following the earthquake.
Rai has conducted assessments in three main affected areas; Bentul, Kletan and Jogyakarta and is working in cooperation with CARE a local NGO for animal welfare made up of mainly veterinary students. Tomorrow Dr Rai is heading to the outer affected areas and will continue her impact assessments that have so far included farm and companion animals, in the beach areas there are many horses and carts that are used as the principle method of transportation, “I want to see these animals and their resting areas, make sure they have food and water and have not been disrupted too much” said Rai, keen for tomorrow to begin.
Dr Rai has found her skill for riding motorbikes (honed in Bali) vital in the attempt to get around the earthquake affected areas, “the roads are not adequate for cars and if they are they are jammed up with traffic”.
Assessment Team Outcomes
7th June 2006, Wednesday
HSI have today, concluded the preliminary assessments following the earthquake in Jogyakarta.
Dr. Rai, veterinarian from Yudisthira, HSI’s partner for disaster response, has today returned to Bali from the epicentre of the earthquake near Jogyakarta in Indonesia’s Island of Java. Covering areas from Bentul to Sleman, to Kletan, to Solo and Parang Tritis, Dr Rai has travelled and worked tirelessly to evaluate the animal situation since the earthquake. Dr Rai has used motorbikes as her mode of transport as cars and vans have not been able to access remote areas that were severely affected.
“Part of the problem for the animals here, is that they were not in a good situation pre-earthquake, this means they cannot last for a long time without food and water – they have little reserves,” noted Rai in her final report that concluded that the initial impact on animals was minimal. However the threat for the welfare of animals for the future is on HSI’s mind as the sourcing of good nutritional food for these animals is held in doubt, as workers stay in villages to look after their families and focus on rebuilding shelter and homes for their loved ones, rather than return to the agricultural areas to cut and collect food provisions for the animals.
Another concern highlighted in the report was the shelter and stalls/stables for animals to live in were in need or repair to give the animals adequate shelter to protect them from the elements, including the rain which has been relentless since the earthquake struck nearly two weeks ago. HSI will also be monitoring this situation as the local people of the area begin to rebuild their lives.
HSI will continue to keep open contacts with a local animal welfare group based in Jogyakarta called CARE and will monitor the situation closely. Yudisthira will continue to provide their neighbouring animal welfare organisation with materials, skills and support.
HSI Asia have responded to disasters and provided assistance and relief in many countries in the past 18 months including; the Asian tsunami, (Aceh – Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and India), Cyclones on the East Coast of India, earthquake in Pakistan and the earthquake closest to home (HSI Asia office in Bali), in Java – Indonesia.
HSI are committed to providing assistance and relief for animals in distress following natural disasters, and the elimination of animal suffering and the encouragement of sustainable agriculture.
