LATEST NEWS + UPDATES
from ISLAND-AID in West Sumatra
by Island Aid on Monday, January 31
@ 7:26 PM
By Dr Aliza Weinman at 1 Feb 2005 - 07:12
At 0700 hrs, the Batavia weighed anchor and headed north to Pulau Raya. This island was one of the main suppliers of lobster, prawns, dried & fresh fish to the western coast of Aceh and had a vibrant trade relationship with the mainland. The island boasted 230-plus floating fish traps (bagans). Now, there are only four scattered traps floating here and there offshore, abandoned skeletons against the blue-green horizon.
The team split up to survey the coastal areas for villages and survivors. Rick’s crew headed to the island and found an area where a village had been washed away. As in the other areas we had seen previously, all that remained were foundations of houses and a few remnants of human civilization: a woman’s pink lace shirt, a dish, a woven basket, a small photo album… The album’s contents were mere distorted images of a happy family, precious memories on wet and weather-worn paper: laughing children, a wedding bed, a grandmother and grand-daughter sitting side-by-side... Everything else from the village had been washed away and was gone.
One house higher up on a hill appeared intact from the afar. On approach from the boat, we were certain we saw someone standing near the house with a buffalo grazing nearby. Once we got up there, however, there was no one to be found, and also no sign of the buffalo. Had it been our imaginations, or was there someone too frightened to come out? Closer inspection revealed that this home too was in shambles, lifted right off its foundation and laid to rest 6 or so meters away. Our minds shuddered to think that the tsunami could have reached that far up the hill – it seemed unimaginable -- but how else to explain what we saw? The interior was an eerie sight, with cabinets askew and cupboard doors flung open. A few photographs were tucked behind a piece of glass next to the unmade bed. A clock stood frozen in time.
Jane’s team went across to the mainland where we could see an encampment. Below the encampment was the destroyed wreckage of the town of Lho Kruet, which previously had just over 2,000 inhabitants. Approximately 150 meters of town has been washed into the sea and lies beneath the now-calm waters. The 250 survivors of that town have constructed a makeshift camp up on the hill. Having received a few heli drops, they have an adequate amount of food for the time being, though still lack some basic supplies. Among them were a few marines and one paramedic named Muhammed. He is treating people as best he can, but is short on supplies. One man in the camp has sustained a severe burn on his leg. A 6 year old child is suffering from episodic fevers over the past month and a poor appetite. We supplied them burn ointment, antibiotics, paracetamol, and antimalarial drugs in addition to bandages, vitamins, oral rehydration solutions and apples. They also requested mosquito netting, soap, and nails, which we provided.
Dr Aliza Weinman
At 0700 hrs, the Batavia weighed anchor and headed north to Pulau Raya. This island was one of the main suppliers of lobster, prawns, dried & fresh fish to the western coast of Aceh and had a vibrant trade relationship with the mainland. The island boasted 230-plus floating fish traps (bagans). Now, there are only four scattered traps floating here and there offshore, abandoned skeletons against the blue-green horizon.
The team split up to survey the coastal areas for villages and survivors. Rick’s crew headed to the island and found an area where a village had been washed away. As in the other areas we had seen previously, all that remained were foundations of houses and a few remnants of human civilization: a woman’s pink lace shirt, a dish, a woven basket, a small photo album… The album’s contents were mere distorted images of a happy family, precious memories on wet and weather-worn paper: laughing children, a wedding bed, a grandmother and grand-daughter sitting side-by-side... Everything else from the village had been washed away and was gone.
One house higher up on a hill appeared intact from the afar. On approach from the boat, we were certain we saw someone standing near the house with a buffalo grazing nearby. Once we got up there, however, there was no one to be found, and also no sign of the buffalo. Had it been our imaginations, or was there someone too frightened to come out? Closer inspection revealed that this home too was in shambles, lifted right off its foundation and laid to rest 6 or so meters away. Our minds shuddered to think that the tsunami could have reached that far up the hill – it seemed unimaginable -- but how else to explain what we saw? The interior was an eerie sight, with cabinets askew and cupboard doors flung open. A few photographs were tucked behind a piece of glass next to the unmade bed. A clock stood frozen in time.
Jane’s team went across to the mainland where we could see an encampment. Below the encampment was the destroyed wreckage of the town of Lho Kruet, which previously had just over 2,000 inhabitants. Approximately 150 meters of town has been washed into the sea and lies beneath the now-calm waters. The 250 survivors of that town have constructed a makeshift camp up on the hill. Having received a few heli drops, they have an adequate amount of food for the time being, though still lack some basic supplies. Among them were a few marines and one paramedic named Muhammed. He is treating people as best he can, but is short on supplies. One man in the camp has sustained a severe burn on his leg. A 6 year old child is suffering from episodic fevers over the past month and a poor appetite. We supplied them burn ointment, antibiotics, paracetamol, and antimalarial drugs in addition to bandages, vitamins, oral rehydration solutions and apples. They also requested mosquito netting, soap, and nails, which we provided.
Dr Aliza Weinman
by Island Aid on Sunday, January 30
@ 5:32 PM
By Rick & Jason at 30 Jan 2005 - 17:32Just north of Patek several kampungs were strung out along the coast road backed by extensive marshes. The residents had nowhere to run to and no chance to escape. The only survivors were those who were away in the hills or out fishing in deep water. The larger twin villages of KUALA BANGKONG and BABAN NIPAH were located close to a hilly peninsular and some made it to high ground. Yesterday 150 of the remaining men trekked 5km through the swamps to bury the remains of victims washed up in the piles of debris. Two bodies were found the day before close to the village and we arrived at 9.30 with 100 body bags, 50 gloves and 50 boots plus food and tarps so that the men could stay till the gruesome work is finished. The blowflies and the smell give away the location of the bodies but many are buried under tons of trees and debris and it will never be possible to get to them.
After retrieving the remains the village head arranged them carefully, symbolically washed the body and then lifted it gently into the body bag. Prayers were joined by our ship's crew and Pak Ichsan and the body's buried and marked by live sapplings.
We showed the men how to wash gloves and boots in dettol and then their hands and arms. As we review these images, the smell of dettol and death returns to all of us who watched this grim but urgent work.
After retrieving the remains the village head arranged them carefully, symbolically washed the body and then lifted it gently into the body bag. Prayers were joined by our ship's crew and Pak Ichsan and the body's buried and marked by live sapplings.
We showed the men how to wash gloves and boots in dettol and then their hands and arms. As we review these images, the smell of dettol and death returns to all of us who watched this grim but urgent work.
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by Island Aid @ 12:59 PM
By Rick Cameron at 30 Jan 2005 - 12:59
No matter how much anyone does for the people of northwest Sumatra--no matter how much food and water and medicine and tools and supplies anyone brings--things can never be the same again. The coastal hamlet of SAWANG near the village of LANGUAN shows this painfully.
156 people lived in this idyllic seaside kampung. Residents lived on fish, vegetables, and fruit, and tapped their rubber trees to sell in the city of CALANG, 15 kilometers away.
The tsunami hit the village with full force. 114 of the 156 died. 42 survived: 38 men, one woman, and three children. All the surviving men lost their wives and all their children; all the surviving children lost both their parents; and the lone surviving woman lost her husband and children.
All of the leaders of the community died. A village elder, apparently the new spokesman, told us, "I can't think, and we don't know what to do now." Half of the villagers, out of desperation, set out yesterday on the day-long walk to the CALANG. They hope to bring back food to their village--but CALANG itself was absolutely devastated by the tsunami, which killed most of the residents of that beautiful and thriving town of 15,000.
The survivors are in great pain, and there appears to be no way out. A month after losing his parents, the three-year-old still cries almost continuously for them. Sometimes he stops to call out for his drowned father, "Ayah, Ayah," and then starts crying again.
So there they are, a group of 42 unrelated people, almost all men. Their village is now little more than an encampment; they are living in makeshift shelters on a hillside. They are several kilometers from any other sign of civilization. They subsist on coconuts, fruit from a few trees, and what's left of their vegetable garden. In some ways, they are better off than other villages: they still have tools, and a well with fresh water. But their rubber trees are not worth tapping; there is no way for them to get the latex to market. And of course, all their fishing boats and equipment are gone--washed away by the sea that has sustained them for generations.
Until our arrival yesterday, this community had seen no aid at all, save for one insufficient food drop from a helicopter. We immediately brought them two small boats full of food, lamps (with kerosene), clothes, and hygiene supplies. They still have an urgent need for roofing iron, seeds, and more food, and we will continue to supply them in the future.
Those that have survived to this point are reasonably healthy, although there is one suspected case of malaria. But there are many flags visible along the beach, marking the gruesome remains of the many victims still not buried. We will return to the encampment today with body bags, gloves, boots and masks.
But despite what we give them, the community seems lost and hopeless without its women. To rebuild their community in a physical way seems feasible, but how can anyone measure the loss of all of their wives and children?
There are countless small kampungs like SAWANG, scattered along this devastated coast. Some of the villages came through a little better; some, a little worse. But for the hard working people of this area, life will never be the same. It's hard to imagine their lives will ever again be as full as they were when they woke up to a normal village morning on December 26th, 2004.
No matter how much anyone does for the people of northwest Sumatra--no matter how much food and water and medicine and tools and supplies anyone brings--things can never be the same again. The coastal hamlet of SAWANG near the village of LANGUAN shows this painfully.
156 people lived in this idyllic seaside kampung. Residents lived on fish, vegetables, and fruit, and tapped their rubber trees to sell in the city of CALANG, 15 kilometers away.
The tsunami hit the village with full force. 114 of the 156 died. 42 survived: 38 men, one woman, and three children. All the surviving men lost their wives and all their children; all the surviving children lost both their parents; and the lone surviving woman lost her husband and children.
All of the leaders of the community died. A village elder, apparently the new spokesman, told us, "I can't think, and we don't know what to do now." Half of the villagers, out of desperation, set out yesterday on the day-long walk to the CALANG. They hope to bring back food to their village--but CALANG itself was absolutely devastated by the tsunami, which killed most of the residents of that beautiful and thriving town of 15,000.
The survivors are in great pain, and there appears to be no way out. A month after losing his parents, the three-year-old still cries almost continuously for them. Sometimes he stops to call out for his drowned father, "Ayah, Ayah," and then starts crying again.
So there they are, a group of 42 unrelated people, almost all men. Their village is now little more than an encampment; they are living in makeshift shelters on a hillside. They are several kilometers from any other sign of civilization. They subsist on coconuts, fruit from a few trees, and what's left of their vegetable garden. In some ways, they are better off than other villages: they still have tools, and a well with fresh water. But their rubber trees are not worth tapping; there is no way for them to get the latex to market. And of course, all their fishing boats and equipment are gone--washed away by the sea that has sustained them for generations.
Until our arrival yesterday, this community had seen no aid at all, save for one insufficient food drop from a helicopter. We immediately brought them two small boats full of food, lamps (with kerosene), clothes, and hygiene supplies. They still have an urgent need for roofing iron, seeds, and more food, and we will continue to supply them in the future.
Those that have survived to this point are reasonably healthy, although there is one suspected case of malaria. But there are many flags visible along the beach, marking the gruesome remains of the many victims still not buried. We will return to the encampment today with body bags, gloves, boots and masks.
But despite what we give them, the community seems lost and hopeless without its women. To rebuild their community in a physical way seems feasible, but how can anyone measure the loss of all of their wives and children?
There are countless small kampungs like SAWANG, scattered along this devastated coast. Some of the villages came through a little better; some, a little worse. But for the hard working people of this area, life will never be the same. It's hard to imagine their lives will ever again be as full as they were when they woke up to a normal village morning on December 26th, 2004.
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by Island Aid on Saturday, January 29
@ 12:17 PM
Alex Yap: This is posted on behalf of Chris Ranken, an Electric Lamb volunteer currently on the Batavia. He wrote this yesterday, on Friday 28/01/2004.
The Batavia spent another day in Meulaboh yesterday. We surveyed the situation both in the city, and by helicopter in the rural areas to the north; we coordinated with several other relief operations; and we dropped off supplies and a dozen volunteers, many of whom are joining the relief effort in that hard-hit city. We weighed anchor shortly after midnight this morning and headed north to the neediest areas. We arrived at the former site of Patek (purple dot) at dawn.
On the ground here, it is chillingly clear what happened. The massive 9.0 earthquake here appears to have lowered the entire coastline, in one jolt, by up to two meters. This pulled a huge surge of seawater inland. This surge flooded the whole area up to a depth of some 12 meters (40 feet), in a matter of seconds. Residents of the town simply had no chance against the massive wall of water--a wall powerful enough to snap 50-cm thick columns of concrete like toothpicks.
Patek was a beautiful seaside town, with lovely beaches rimmed by palm trees and volcanic peaks. But the water simply obliterated the town. The low-lying site now lies partially underwater: the crumbled remains of the coastal highway are below sea level, and a mosque, which had been under construction 200 meters in from the shore, now has waves lapping at what remains of it: a flattened and mangled mass of twisted, crushed stone and concrete.
The survivors of the tsunami fled a few kilometers into the hills, often to nearby villages. Many lost their entire families, and now feel lost in their new surroundings. One survivor, the patriarch of a large family of twenty-six including children and grandchildren, lost twenty-two members of his family—including a granddaughter who had been wrested from his arms as the water crushed his town. Yet still he selflessly talked of others, such as fishermen who rode out the tsunami at sea and lost every single member of their large families.
We transported several tons of food, medicine, clothing, and sanitation supplies to a number of small settlements in the area. Many of these people had received virtually no aid in the month since the tsunami. It is gratifying to be welcomed so graciously, and with such goodwill and appreciation, by some of the neediest victims of this tragedy.
Many survivors in this area fled to the nearby village of Fajar, located high enough to have been untouched by the tsunami. They have remained there ever since. They have nothing to go home to—and they have lingering fears of the sea, which are compounded by continuing major aftershocks. Our medical team, led by Dr. Aliza Weinman, flew by helicopter to the village. At a makeshift clinic, we examined and treated some two hundred people for a wide variety of maladies, many related to the unsanitary post-tsunami conditions that prevail along this entire coast.
For the most seriously ill patients, a hospital ward has been set up on board the Batavia. Diseases like typhoid and malaria are a serious threat, sometimes seen together in the same patient. Among the typhoid cases we have seen are the father and pregnant mother of an adorable but terrified two-year-old, all of whom are currently aboard the Batavia undergoing further diagnosis and treatment by our on-board medical team. Their prognosis is already improving, and we are hopeful that we have begun treatment in time.
We have other tasks besides assisting the survivors. Tomorrow, we will help bury perhaps 100 bodies, still lying untouched near the sea a month later. This task makes frighteningly clear how open this awful wound still is: one month after the catastrophe, it has barely begun to heal. It will be a long, long time before life ever approaches normal again for the survivors at Patek.
--Chris Ranken, on board K.M. Batavia
A nautical mile (nm) is 1,852 meters, or 1.852 kilometers. In the English measurement system, a nautical mile is 1.1508 miles, or 6,076 feet; Patek is 12nm north of Calang. The position of the purple dot is approximate.
The Batavia spent another day in Meulaboh yesterday. We surveyed the situation both in the city, and by helicopter in the rural areas to the north; we coordinated with several other relief operations; and we dropped off supplies and a dozen volunteers, many of whom are joining the relief effort in that hard-hit city. We weighed anchor shortly after midnight this morning and headed north to the neediest areas. We arrived at the former site of Patek (purple dot) at dawn.
On the ground here, it is chillingly clear what happened. The massive 9.0 earthquake here appears to have lowered the entire coastline, in one jolt, by up to two meters. This pulled a huge surge of seawater inland. This surge flooded the whole area up to a depth of some 12 meters (40 feet), in a matter of seconds. Residents of the town simply had no chance against the massive wall of water--a wall powerful enough to snap 50-cm thick columns of concrete like toothpicks.
Patek was a beautiful seaside town, with lovely beaches rimmed by palm trees and volcanic peaks. But the water simply obliterated the town. The low-lying site now lies partially underwater: the crumbled remains of the coastal highway are below sea level, and a mosque, which had been under construction 200 meters in from the shore, now has waves lapping at what remains of it: a flattened and mangled mass of twisted, crushed stone and concrete.
The survivors of the tsunami fled a few kilometers into the hills, often to nearby villages. Many lost their entire families, and now feel lost in their new surroundings. One survivor, the patriarch of a large family of twenty-six including children and grandchildren, lost twenty-two members of his family—including a granddaughter who had been wrested from his arms as the water crushed his town. Yet still he selflessly talked of others, such as fishermen who rode out the tsunami at sea and lost every single member of their large families.
We transported several tons of food, medicine, clothing, and sanitation supplies to a number of small settlements in the area. Many of these people had received virtually no aid in the month since the tsunami. It is gratifying to be welcomed so graciously, and with such goodwill and appreciation, by some of the neediest victims of this tragedy.
Many survivors in this area fled to the nearby village of Fajar, located high enough to have been untouched by the tsunami. They have remained there ever since. They have nothing to go home to—and they have lingering fears of the sea, which are compounded by continuing major aftershocks. Our medical team, led by Dr. Aliza Weinman, flew by helicopter to the village. At a makeshift clinic, we examined and treated some two hundred people for a wide variety of maladies, many related to the unsanitary post-tsunami conditions that prevail along this entire coast.
For the most seriously ill patients, a hospital ward has been set up on board the Batavia. Diseases like typhoid and malaria are a serious threat, sometimes seen together in the same patient. Among the typhoid cases we have seen are the father and pregnant mother of an adorable but terrified two-year-old, all of whom are currently aboard the Batavia undergoing further diagnosis and treatment by our on-board medical team. Their prognosis is already improving, and we are hopeful that we have begun treatment in time.
We have other tasks besides assisting the survivors. Tomorrow, we will help bury perhaps 100 bodies, still lying untouched near the sea a month later. This task makes frighteningly clear how open this awful wound still is: one month after the catastrophe, it has barely begun to heal. It will be a long, long time before life ever approaches normal again for the survivors at Patek.
--Chris Ranken, on board K.M. Batavia
A nautical mile (nm) is 1,852 meters, or 1.852 kilometers. In the English measurement system, a nautical mile is 1.1508 miles, or 6,076 feet; Patek is 12nm north of Calang. The position of the purple dot is approximate.
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by Island Aid on Wednesday, January 26
@ 5:29 PM
The Batavia spent the day at Meulaboh today. They are currently unloading supplies sent by Aceh Kita and Kontras - clothing, baby supplies, women's apparel, etc. They are also unloading body bags supplied by Rolls Royce and the British High Commission. They are loading onto the Batavia medical supplies and tools.
Rick and Jane made an arial survey of the west coast from Meulaboh through to Calang and about fifty kilometres north of Calang to the village of Lho Kruet. This area is completely inaccessible by road and the only access is via air or by sea. They will be sending arial photographs which will be posted as soon as they are available.
Rick and Jane went in a helicopter provided by Obor Berkat Indonesia, who have been servicing the small villages along the coast by flying in supplies with it and a small seaplane 100-200kg at a time. These villages are in crisis - there is no coordination, and no one staying on the ground to help. There is no integral process to try and understand what people need - mainly just aid drops, so there is a lot of waste, and a huge lack of coordination. There is not any feedback from the villages themselves, and there is a lot of suffering. This is what the Sea Bridge was set up to do, and tomorrow, once the mothership is loaded, they will be headed directly to these areas to see what assistance they can give. This is really when the Electric Lamb Mission starts its core work.
Obor Berkat Indonesia is shaping up to be a central partner in this work as they have identified the Electric Lamb Mission as central to reaching those who have not been able to get to the IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) Camps, and who urgently need aid and support.
The Batavia will stay out in the field as long as possible - until all aid is used up. They will attempt to access as many villages along the west coast as possible, and provide them with relief and medical support.
Volunteers who will be entering or leaving the mothership will do so either through road to Medan or Banda Aceh, or via seaplane/helicopter to one of those two towns.
More information as we receive it ...
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by Island Aid on Tuesday, January 25
@ 12:12 PM
Singkil is very shallow and Batavia has to stay a long way out to sea. Our trusty agent has organized several small boats to pick up our delivery for CARE. After an hour of waiting and scanning the horizon we spot an unbelievably tiny boat heading our way. "Can't be it" Jane says after a good look though the binoculars. "Coming our way and they are waving"
Another tiny boat appears out of the coastal haze as we start handing down buckets and chemicals.
Two hours later we weighed anchor off Singkil after successfully dropping buckets and aid boxes of to CARE workers who will deliver it to Simeulue. Already, the Sea Bridge is working! The mother ship enables large amounts of cargo to be moved to very remote places.
The Batavia is now enroute to Meulaboh where they will meet up with people from Operation Blessings, and pick up more aid.
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by Island Aid @ 4:10 AM
The Batavia refueled last night in Sibolga, and is now enroute to the Banyaks. Sibolga lived up to its reputation as a "weaping wound on the underbelly of Sumatra". Funds we sent to our "agent" as a down payment for fuel the day before have vanished along with the agent himself. We dock in the dark and begin a frenzied search for fuel.
The situation on the dock gets tense as the local mafia try to muscle in on the deal. Rick calls them animals and asks to meet the Bupati. Order returns and after a long wait the drums of fuel start to arrive. We check every one and reject a lot that have water in the bottom. It is slow and dirty work to refuel this way and Batavia takes a massive 38 tons to top up her tanks.
As at 1300 local time, the ship has weighed anchor in Singkil, awaiting a CARE boat to come and pick up some care buckets and boxes for distribution. More information as it comes in
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by Island Aid on Monday, January 24
@ 11:55 PM
KM Batavia is carrying donated relief aid and equipment in partnership with the following organizations and institutions:
Care International
Galuh Karya Buana
Obor Berkat Indonesia (Blessings)
Kontras organisation
Unilever Group
Rolls Royce International
Applied Satellite Technology Asia Pty Ltd
BR2C Group
AcehKita.com
Mega Prima Logistik
Nurani Dunia (Indonesia Peduli)
Indonesian Navy
Padang Mayor’s relief aid
Baitul Mukminin Masjid
PMI Cabang Padang (Indonesian Red Cross)
Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Fisheries
PEMKO PADANG
All of this is possible as a result of the financial support of our sponsors and donors.
Thank you!
Care International
Galuh Karya Buana
Obor Berkat Indonesia (Blessings)
Kontras organisation
Unilever Group
Rolls Royce International
Applied Satellite Technology Asia Pty Ltd
BR2C Group
AcehKita.com
Mega Prima Logistik
Nurani Dunia (Indonesia Peduli)
Indonesian Navy
Padang Mayor’s relief aid
Baitul Mukminin Masjid
PMI Cabang Padang (Indonesian Red Cross)
Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Fisheries
PEMKO PADANG
All of this is possible as a result of the financial support of our sponsors and donors.
Thank you!
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by Island Aid @ 11:10 PM
Just got a communication from Rick...
The Batavia is about to dock in Sibolga. They are awaiting a pilot ship, and will refuel there.
Ali returned from Simeulue to Padang from the area because he was determined to get on the boat.
Bu Is called up at 11pm from the ship while Jane and Rick were packing...she is the Cameron's housekeeper. She said she and her daughter were packed and coming on the ship to look after the cooking! The entire team were amazed and very happy to have her on board. Her decision was spontaneous and we had no idea that she had been thinking about joining. It is her first trip on a ship ever and she has the kitchen humming.
Her photo is below. Its lovely to know that the team is well looked after, and eating happily. She is a SUPERB cook!
The Batavia is about to dock in Sibolga. They are awaiting a pilot ship, and will refuel there.
Ali returned from Simeulue to Padang from the area because he was determined to get on the boat.
Bu Is called up at 11pm from the ship while Jane and Rick were packing...she is the Cameron's housekeeper. She said she and her daughter were packed and coming on the ship to look after the cooking! The entire team were amazed and very happy to have her on board. Her decision was spontaneous and we had no idea that she had been thinking about joining. It is her first trip on a ship ever and she has the kitchen humming.
Her photo is below. Its lovely to know that the team is well looked after, and eating happily. She is a SUPERB cook!
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by Island Aid @ 7:41 PM
Have received message from onboard the Batavia, saying that they are halfway there - expected arrival Sibolga 2300 local time, and that all is well, spirits are good on board ship, the weather has been kind, and they are busy sorting out the ship's equipment.
Below are a few photographs taken by Jason Childs, who is onboard. Please note that all photos are copyrighted, and permission must be granted before reuse. Thanks.
Below are a few photographs taken by Jason Childs, who is onboard. Please note that all photos are copyrighted, and permission must be granted before reuse. Thanks.
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by Island Aid @ 12:05 PM
Dr Aliza Weinman is an Emergency Medicine Resident at St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York.
Having made plans prior to 26/12 to holiday in this part of the world, she recently learned of the Electric Lamb Mission over the web and quickly volunteered the remaining days of her vacation to work with us.
Aliza has participated in volunteer medical work abroad in Tanzania and Vietnam, as well as Israel and France. In Vietnam, she helped run a conference on Disaster Preparedness.
We are grateful to have Aliza with us.
Having made plans prior to 26/12 to holiday in this part of the world, she recently learned of the Electric Lamb Mission over the web and quickly volunteered the remaining days of her vacation to work with us.
Aliza has participated in volunteer medical work abroad in Tanzania and Vietnam, as well as Israel and France. In Vietnam, she helped run a conference on Disaster Preparedness.
We are grateful to have Aliza with us.
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by Island Aid @ 5:06 AM
We are exhausted but relieved to be out of port with a full load. Our beach landing boats are aboard and we had to turn away trucks laden with local donations. We will refuel in Sibolga later today so that we can remain on station in Calang area for as long as possible.
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by Island Aid on Sunday, January 23
@ 9:41 PM
Padang's Mayor Fauzi Bahar mobilized his entire national guard SAR team to help load BATAVIA in Teluk Bayur today. The team shoehorned the last load of local rice and public donations on board and then dragged 10 Mentawai dugouts in on top of everything else. There is barely room to move anywhere on board after a flood of organizations and community donors rushed to secure space on board.
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by Island Aid on Saturday, January 22
@ 10:35 PM
After a smooth trip from Jakarta, Batavia is loading at Teluk Bayur port. Truckloads of clothing and food supplies have been donated by the West Sumatra community. Beach landing boats and dug-out canoes contrast the variety of needs we are expecting in Aceh.
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by Island Aid @ 6:16 PM
Jan. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Aid deliveries for tsunami victims in Indonesia's
Sumatra Island, where more than 600,000 people are displaced, are being
hampered by rains, the United Nations said.
"The road along the west coast is still unusable,'' Bo Asplund, the UN
humanitarian coordinator for Indonesia, said in a telephone interview
today after visiting Aceh and North Sumatra provinces. "We are still
using helicopters, including U.S. helicopters, to inaccessible spots.''
Deliveries of supplies by road in Aceh are being delayed and conditions
are worsening in temporary shelters in northern Sumatra, the area
closest to the Dec. 26 magnitude-9 earthquake that caused the tsunami,
the UN said on its Web site.
Indonesia's death toll from the disaster is more than 172,000 people,
the Home Affairs Ministry said yesterday. The government says it will
need $4.5 billion to rebuild Aceh and North Sumatra. More than 240,000
people are dead or missing as a result of the tsunami that hit
Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India and nine other countries in the
Indian Ocean.
"What we are worried about is water borne diseases like malaria and
dengue fever because there is all this brackish water,'' Asplund said.
"There are still isolated communities, but we have been able to deliver
food, medication and water to these people.''
Health care units north of the town of Meulaboh are "not functioning,''
the UN said on its Web site. The relief operation is attempting to
repair the airstrip at Meulaboh so large transport aircraft are able to
land, Asplund said.
"There have been cases of tetanus in camps and individuals living in
their old homes,'' he said. "We are seeing a couple of cases of measles."
More at
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=ajbih3eq.TEE&refer=top_world_news
Sumatra Island, where more than 600,000 people are displaced, are being
hampered by rains, the United Nations said.
"The road along the west coast is still unusable,'' Bo Asplund, the UN
humanitarian coordinator for Indonesia, said in a telephone interview
today after visiting Aceh and North Sumatra provinces. "We are still
using helicopters, including U.S. helicopters, to inaccessible spots.''
Deliveries of supplies by road in Aceh are being delayed and conditions
are worsening in temporary shelters in northern Sumatra, the area
closest to the Dec. 26 magnitude-9 earthquake that caused the tsunami,
the UN said on its Web site.
Indonesia's death toll from the disaster is more than 172,000 people,
the Home Affairs Ministry said yesterday. The government says it will
need $4.5 billion to rebuild Aceh and North Sumatra. More than 240,000
people are dead or missing as a result of the tsunami that hit
Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India and nine other countries in the
Indian Ocean.
"What we are worried about is water borne diseases like malaria and
dengue fever because there is all this brackish water,'' Asplund said.
"There are still isolated communities, but we have been able to deliver
food, medication and water to these people.''
Health care units north of the town of Meulaboh are "not functioning,''
the UN said on its Web site. The relief operation is attempting to
repair the airstrip at Meulaboh so large transport aircraft are able to
land, Asplund said.
"There have been cases of tetanus in camps and individuals living in
their old homes,'' he said. "We are seeing a couple of cases of measles."
More at
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=ajbih3eq.TEE&refer=top_world_news
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by Island Aid @ 12:36 PM
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesia is reporting a staggering new death toll from the tsunami disaster as recovery efforts slowly resolve the fates of tens of thousands of missing people.
The Indonesian Health Ministry says the December 26 earthquake and tsunamis killed 166,320 people in Indonesia, double the previous official figure.
The latest figures out of Indonesia now put the regional death toll for the Indian Ocean disaster at 212,611.
The new death numbers reflected the latest reports from the provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra, both in the path of the killer tsunamis spawned by a magnitude 9 earthquake the day after Christmas, Dodi Indrasanto, a director at the Health Ministry, told Reuters.
From: http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/01/19/asia.tsunami/index.html
Also, look at this transcript of an ABC radio interview of United Nations Deputy Humanitarian Co-ordinator in Indonesia; Joel Boutroue:
RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Do you think the figure's going to go beyond that official toll that is now about 177,000? Do you expect it to go higher?
JOEL BOUTROUE: I don't know. I mean I cannot say. The Government will know better. We know that probably thousands of people, the bodies of thousands of people, will probably never be found again. So we will probably never have an exact figure. But you should consider the number of thousands of missing and the number of people buried in a sort of wide margin and the figures may indeed increase even further, dramatically so.
From: http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2005/s1285802.htm
The Indonesian Health Ministry says the December 26 earthquake and tsunamis killed 166,320 people in Indonesia, double the previous official figure.
The latest figures out of Indonesia now put the regional death toll for the Indian Ocean disaster at 212,611.
The new death numbers reflected the latest reports from the provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra, both in the path of the killer tsunamis spawned by a magnitude 9 earthquake the day after Christmas, Dodi Indrasanto, a director at the Health Ministry, told Reuters.
From: http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/01/19/asia.tsunami/index.html
Also, look at this transcript of an ABC radio interview of United Nations Deputy Humanitarian Co-ordinator in Indonesia; Joel Boutroue:
RAFAEL EPSTEIN: Do you think the figure's going to go beyond that official toll that is now about 177,000? Do you expect it to go higher?
JOEL BOUTROUE: I don't know. I mean I cannot say. The Government will know better. We know that probably thousands of people, the bodies of thousands of people, will probably never be found again. So we will probably never have an exact figure. But you should consider the number of thousands of missing and the number of people buried in a sort of wide margin and the figures may indeed increase even further, dramatically so.
From: http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2005/s1285802.htm
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by Island Aid on Friday, January 21
@ 9:15 PM
The following list of items are urgently needed in large quantities so that the Batavia can support land based clinics and support medivac if required. If you can help, contact us immediately.
URGENT NEEDS
• Antiseptic hand wash
• Paracetamol Syrup
• Doxycycline
• Ciprofloxacin
• Tetnus Toxoid
• Miconazole or Nysatin Cream
• Keflex
• Bacitracin
• Alcohol Swabs
• Klorfeson Cream
GENERAL ONGOING NEEDS
• gloves
• sterigel
• chlorohexidene wash
• gauze packs
• dressing packs
• scissors
• alcohol swabs
• vaseline gauze
• flixomul
• op site adhesive sticking plasters
• disinfectant
• rubbish bags
• saline
• syringes for wound cleaning
• betadine swabs
• cohesive elastic bandaging
• antibacterial cream
• betadine swabs and solution and dressing
• scabies cream
• multivitamins
• vitamin a
• vitamin c
• thermometers
• antipyretics
• pediatric syrup
• imodium
• ural sachets
• rehydrate
• soap
URGENT NEEDS
• Antiseptic hand wash
• Paracetamol Syrup
• Doxycycline
• Ciprofloxacin
• Tetnus Toxoid
• Miconazole or Nysatin Cream
• Keflex
• Bacitracin
• Alcohol Swabs
• Klorfeson Cream
GENERAL ONGOING NEEDS
• gloves
• sterigel
• chlorohexidene wash
• gauze packs
• dressing packs
• scissors
• alcohol swabs
• vaseline gauze
• flixomul
• op site adhesive sticking plasters
• disinfectant
• rubbish bags
• saline
• syringes for wound cleaning
• betadine swabs
• cohesive elastic bandaging
• antibacterial cream
• betadine swabs and solution and dressing
• scabies cream
• multivitamins
• vitamin a
• vitamin c
• thermometers
• antipyretics
• pediatric syrup
• imodium
• ural sachets
• rehydrate
• soap
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by Island Aid @ 7:49 AM
Pia and Simon are leaving for Padang this morning, in preparation to receive 5 volunteer relief workers from Salam Malaysia. They will take with them some medical supplies for the Batavia to offer primary medical care and relief.
The Salam team are scheduled to depart from KLIA for Padang on Sunday morning.
A volunteer doctor is arriving from NYC, USA for Padang for earlier Sunday morning.
We are still in need of medical equipment and supplies of drugs to depart with the team. Contact us immediately for more information.
The Electric Lamb Mission is grateful for Salam Malaysia's endorsement and participation, and looks forward to a mutually enriching relationship.
The Salam team are scheduled to depart from KLIA for Padang on Sunday morning.
A volunteer doctor is arriving from NYC, USA for Padang for earlier Sunday morning.
We are still in need of medical equipment and supplies of drugs to depart with the team. Contact us immediately for more information.
The Electric Lamb Mission is grateful for Salam Malaysia's endorsement and participation, and looks forward to a mutually enriching relationship.
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by Island Aid on Wednesday, January 19
@ 8:50 AM
KM Batavia loading starts 1100 hours Wednesday January 19, 2005 at Perlabuhan Nusantara Dermaga 004 Utara. Masuk Pintu Satu tanjung Priok.
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by Island Aid on Tuesday, January 18
@ 11:35 PM
Ministry of Fisheries senior staff have just reported that survivors of the tsunami are walking along the coast from both directions towards Calang refugee camp. We have been requested to make this our priority destination as the number in the camp has grown from 2,000 to over 10,000 in the last few days. We are waiting on a more detailed report and needs list.
Jane has been flat out with calls from major agencies and several non aligned volunteer groups requesting space for over 100 tons of aid supplies for loading on Batavia tomorrow.
Jane has been flat out with calls from major agencies and several non aligned volunteer groups requesting space for over 100 tons of aid supplies for loading on Batavia tomorrow.
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by Island Aid @ 11:21 PM
MSF doctors on KM Sembilan have just surveyed several villages in the Sibigau area of NW Simeulue Island. The population of over 9,000 are camped in rough shelters make from salvaged materials and some tents. About 90% of the buildings are destroyed or unuseable. The remaining 10% are unsafe. It seems the quake did as much damage as the tsunami. An MSF chopper was scheduled today to bring in mosquito nets and other supplies. These villages are not accessible by land at all.
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by Island Aid @ 10:48 PM
The UN's refugee agency has said it has begun airlifting supplies to remote parts of Indonesia in an unprecedented operation to ease pressure on congested camps and help thousands of tsunami survivors yet to receive aid.
The operation is expected to shift into high gear next week when three Super Puma helicopters donated by the Swiss Government will swing into action, UN High Commissioner for Refugees spokesman in Meulaboh, Fernando del Mundo, told AFP.
He said tents, blankets, water containers, kitchen sets and sleeping mats would be given to displaced people in areas isolated when roads and bridges were washed away by the giant waves on December 26.
Full story http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200501/s1282825.htm
The operation is expected to shift into high gear next week when three Super Puma helicopters donated by the Swiss Government will swing into action, UN High Commissioner for Refugees spokesman in Meulaboh, Fernando del Mundo, told AFP.
He said tents, blankets, water containers, kitchen sets and sleeping mats would be given to displaced people in areas isolated when roads and bridges were washed away by the giant waves on December 26.
Full story http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200501/s1282825.htm
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by Island Aid on Monday, January 17
@ 10:11 PM
This just in from Rick, who got an email from Chris Wilcox in Australia:
"Thought you may be interested that others still care. The Surf Riders Association organized surf circles all over Australia to coincide with the minutes silence on Sunday to remember the Tsunami victims - this photo is the Margaret river one.
I had a bucket at the point and raised some funds during this Surf Circle event. It seems that surfers don't have much money down here. Lots of the old crew were there Rob and Di Connelly Ken Rouw, Mark and Leslie Huessenstamm etc. Sky Thompson etc. Your plight and efforts in Aceh were explained and they all send their best wishes."
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by Island Aid on Sunday, January 16
@ 9:15 PM
Ali called from Sembilan last night. They are anchored near Alafan village at the North end of Simeulue, the coast that was closest to the epicenter. The line was pretty bad but here are the basics:
There are 4 villages in the area that can not be reached by road at all. The only access is by boat and every boat in the village has vanished without trace. So have over 1,800 houses. Close to the beach even the foundations are gone. Coral reef is pilled up on the shores and all over the landscape. The tsunamis have trashed it and who knows what is left of the sea life nearby. Ali said that after the quake hit, people saw fish jumping out of the water onto the beach and rocks. So the fish knew they were in trouble. Everybody ran even before the ocean receded so no one so far can describe how big the wave was... at least so far Ali has not met anyone who can or wants to describe it.
In the 4 villages there is nothing left standing and the entire population are camped under makeshift shelter scavenged from the debris. Food is now getting through and the injured have been taken to hospital. Less than 10 people died. The shared ancestoral memory of an even bigger tsunami in 1907 saved this community. They want to rebuild. They need mosquito nets, tents, lamps, kero, cooking gear, etc etc. They would like to see a doctor stay in the area rather than visit, count heads and write notes then leave. There are 4,266 people waiting for help and they have only the clothes they were wearing when they ran.
There are 4 villages in the area that can not be reached by road at all. The only access is by boat and every boat in the village has vanished without trace. So have over 1,800 houses. Close to the beach even the foundations are gone. Coral reef is pilled up on the shores and all over the landscape. The tsunamis have trashed it and who knows what is left of the sea life nearby. Ali said that after the quake hit, people saw fish jumping out of the water onto the beach and rocks. So the fish knew they were in trouble. Everybody ran even before the ocean receded so no one so far can describe how big the wave was... at least so far Ali has not met anyone who can or wants to describe it.
In the 4 villages there is nothing left standing and the entire population are camped under makeshift shelter scavenged from the debris. Food is now getting through and the injured have been taken to hospital. Less than 10 people died. The shared ancestoral memory of an even bigger tsunami in 1907 saved this community. They want to rebuild. They need mosquito nets, tents, lamps, kero, cooking gear, etc etc. They would like to see a doctor stay in the area rather than visit, count heads and write notes then leave. There are 4,266 people waiting for help and they have only the clothes they were wearing when they ran.
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by Island Aid on Saturday, January 15
@ 7:12 PM
After a call from Rolls Royce top brass: Jane, Bron and I will be flying to Jakarta to load the BATAVIA mother-ship early Monday 17th January.
Rolls Royce has offered to cover the first 2 weeks of the charter only, so we are still keen to talk to others who can help for the months ahead. The Rolls Royce team has lined up Unilever for supplies of disinfectants, cleaning chemicals/materials and anything else they might have in their warehouse.
Much of the material we want to load is available in Jakarta but there are some items that we have not sourced yet:
On board:
• Internet capable Marine Satellite Phone and Modem (ie., Fleet modem). (we could borrow and return later)
• Watermaker(s) (again, on loan if we cant find a donated one)
• Washing machines (the boat has no laundry)
• Chairs tables for the dining room (plastic stackable)
• A few office desks and chairs for the coordination room
• Power tools, workbenches, bench grinders
• Anything that would be usefull in an on board workshop
• Welding plant
For Village infrastructure:
• Generators, 1,000w, 1,500w, 2,500w petrol and 5KVA diesel.
• Village PV power kits (just to run a TV set)
• Water tanks Tents Hand Tools
• PVC pipe, water supply and drainage + fittings and glue
• Roofing material
• Nails, Bolts, Screws
• Paint, both oil based and water based
Medicine....(a comprehensive list tomorrow)
Ships Stores - Food/drinks and consumables... We have lots of freezer space.
Rolls Royce has offered to cover the first 2 weeks of the charter only, so we are still keen to talk to others who can help for the months ahead. The Rolls Royce team has lined up Unilever for supplies of disinfectants, cleaning chemicals/materials and anything else they might have in their warehouse.
Much of the material we want to load is available in Jakarta but there are some items that we have not sourced yet:
On board:
• Internet capable Marine Satellite Phone and Modem (ie., Fleet modem). (we could borrow and return later)
• Watermaker(s) (again, on loan if we cant find a donated one)
• Washing machines (the boat has no laundry)
• Chairs tables for the dining room (plastic stackable)
• A few office desks and chairs for the coordination room
• Power tools, workbenches, bench grinders
• Anything that would be usefull in an on board workshop
• Welding plant
For Village infrastructure:
• Generators, 1,000w, 1,500w, 2,500w petrol and 5KVA diesel.
• Village PV power kits (just to run a TV set)
• Water tanks Tents Hand Tools
• PVC pipe, water supply and drainage + fittings and glue
• Roofing material
• Nails, Bolts, Screws
• Paint, both oil based and water based
Medicine....(a comprehensive list tomorrow)
Ships Stores - Food/drinks and consumables... We have lots of freezer space.
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by Island Aid @ 7:39 AM
Government disaster staff in the tiny south Aceh port of Singkil told foreign doctors that the Banyaks did not need more medical aid right now. Intrigued by this we checked with the Bupati's adjutant. He said: "Some boats from Padang are looking after the people and more are coming. We think the doctors arriving by land should go up to the north where things are very bad."
Captain Pili phoned in last night. He needed to talk. After a quick repair job to the bow, the Electric Lamb has been helping the village people retrieve corpses that are now drifting into the islands. They buried 38 people yesterday and it was ghastly work. Most troubling are the human heads that are turning up on the beaches at high tide.
Northerly winds are bringing with them a gruesome reminder of how vast this catastrophe is and how far we have to go before the communities in this shattered region can hope for anything like a normal life.
Electric Lamb was holed forward after hitting a log in the Banyaks
Photographed above in Sibolga after repairs were completed
Captain Pili phoned in last night. He needed to talk. After a quick repair job to the bow, the Electric Lamb has been helping the village people retrieve corpses that are now drifting into the islands. They buried 38 people yesterday and it was ghastly work. Most troubling are the human heads that are turning up on the beaches at high tide.
Northerly winds are bringing with them a gruesome reminder of how vast this catastrophe is and how far we have to go before the communities in this shattered region can hope for anything like a normal life.
Electric Lamb was holed forward after hitting a log in the Banyaks
Photographed above in Sibolga after repairs were completed
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