Air drops by military helicopter have been observed using splatter type techniques, indiscriminately tossing out marginally valuable aid, such as boxes of dried noodles, in the Meulaboh area. And this, with no visible recipients on the ground, in many cases, over waterlogged areas. In contrast, our approach is to be able to focus aid appropriately, and intelligently, providing the best possible immediate and longer term Survival Value Per Kilo to visible, tangible recipients.

The Orangutan Information Centre (SOS-OIC) is continuing to purchase and pack supplies for the Aceh Aid Bucket Brigade with funds we have transferred to them in Medan.

They arrived at aprox 1pm in Padang, West Sumatra, with critical supplies and thousands of dollars to use for buying supplies on site. Lee is conducting a initial logistical field assessment and advising on the initial effort from the Padang side, while Sam (an experienced disaster field worker and engineer) is advising the team in logistical preparations and preparing to depart with the teams as soon as the special water purification filters that we are purchasing for him have arrived from Singapore. They have report that there are still lots of basic supplies available for purchase there.

Five liveaboard dive and surf vessels, including the Quicksilver vessel, have been pledged for aid use for two months free of charge. They are also in the process of gaining access to three 60-tonne cargo ships, although they will require dinghies to get to shore. We have knowledge of a party bringing in 4 zodiacs, destination unknown as of yet.