Status Report 1 Jan 2005

Brief info summarised by Sri Seiful - status morning Jan 1 2005
srisetio@yahoo.com

Every single day, even almost every hour, we manage to synergize with new
parties, and we are now jointly operating as a full team, and able to
channel aid from its source to the victims direct, with particular focus to
Meulaboh and the surrounding islands.

From our post at Al Izhar, which is now open 24 hours daily, and manned by
both the Al Izhar teachers/employees/parents and students, we are able to
coordinate the efforts in requesting aid, depending on information from the
field of what is needed. We are now able to reach Meulaboh one way or
another, and are now working hard on setting up a refueling point for the
helicopters in Bakongan. Pertamina is in the process of shipping sufficient
fuel for the planes and heli within the next 3 days.

As we are now fully immersed in supporting the aid during this relief stage,
so far, goods such as: blankets/sarongs, dates (this is a survival food, and
not easily perishable), biscuits, baby biscuits, sanitary napkins (for the
women, including underwear), dry clothing, water purification tablets, and
other primary needs have been channeled almost daily from Jakarta.

A team of doctors have been flown into Medan towards Meulaboh, which we
managed to be one of the first to reach with aid via sea in fishermen's
boats. Now we have established contact by land and hope to continue to do
so.

We are attempting to also help channel the goods that are now being held up
in the Red Cross' warehouses in Medan, of which they have approached our
team in Medan.

Sick children evacuated to Jakarta will now be treated in several hospitals
which have agreed to join forces and receive these children free of charge.

We have also managed to join forces with Rotary International, thru the
sending of 5000 body bags from Rotary Club Singapore Marina, and also
established joint efforts with Rotary Club Langkat in Sumatera in
conjunction with Aceh Sepakat, who were the first to reach Banda Aceh,
Lhokseumawe, Siglie and Langsa with aid.

Our relief efforts will continue as long as needed, and for now,
funds are much more in demand, to be able to match the
demand from the field and our purchasing efforts in Jakarta (supplies/goods
are running low in Medan and Pakanbaru). Our latest shipment had included a
purchase of half a ton of dates (survival food) and almost 75,000 water
purification tablets to Medan.

posted by denny turner dennyturner@gmail.com