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USAID Assists Indonesians with Potential Eruption of Mt. Merapi
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2006
0502-06-042
Press Office: 202-712-4320
Public Information: 202-712-4810
www.usaid.gov
WASHINGTON D.C. - THE U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) has sent a team of four scientists to Indonesia in response to the possible eruption of the Mt. Merapi volcano. The team, from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), has extensive expertise on Mt. Merapi and will assist with monitoring and assessing the threat level.
At the present time, the volcano is at Alert Level 3 (of 4 levels). More than 5,000 Indonesians have fled their homes as the initial lava flows have oozed from the volcano. Approximately 30,000 people are in an immediate danger zone for which forced evacuations would be necessary in the event of an eruption
USAID has already provided $50,000 to support evacuation preparations by the Indonesia Red Cross.
Merapi, one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes, lies in one of the world's most densely populated areas and dominates the landscape immediately north of the major city of Yogyakarta. It is one of the most actively monitored volcanoes in the world, according to the USGS, and these monitoring efforts are supported by USAID/OFDA-funded equipment and training provided through the Volcano Disaster Assistance Program (VDAP).
VDAP has responded to 23 major crises and built capacity in eleven countries over the last 20 years.
For further information on the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance please follow this link:
http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
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