Christine Foster has been networking in Medan with both local and international NGOs, to facilitate cooperation and maximum efficacy of field activities. SOS primatologist Gail Campbell-Smith and husband Miran with OIC volunteers have just returned from Banda Aceh, where they have been working in conjunction with the department of forestry (BKSDA). Arriving on the 29th of December, their convoy was one of the first to deliver critical aid to Banda Aceh and smaller villages along the way. They are now debriefing the SOS-OIC Medan office and planning the necessary next steps in the relief effort.

Eleven skilled volunteers, five from AAAI are on board this vessel and six Indonesian medical experts, with an Indonesian captain and crew. The AAAI volunteers are: Sam Schultz (engineering, logistics, relief ), Oded Carmi (engineering), Chris Gentry (medical), Sylvius Buferne (general relief), and Stefan Zawada (medical).

By the 9th of January, field surveys from Chris Sucrrah’s vessel “Asia” after rapid surveys by sea and air, had found many areas of the western islands were relatively well supplied, and the “Sumber Rejeki” set out towards the mainland to refuel and assess conditions at Calang, a city on the west coast of Sumatra which was rumored to be in desperate need of aid.

These rumors proved true and the crew of the “Sumber Rejeki” is currently unloading their entire cargo to the population there in cooperation with four aid workers from one of our partner organizations, WALHI (Indonesian Forum for the Environment), who were already on the ground in Calang, and who we are in contact with via satellite telephone. See sat phone field report from Sam Schultz at end of this update.

The “Sumber Rejeki,” is to depart Calang for Banda Aceh as soon as possible, to reload, prioritizing high protein foods, water, and shelter materials to drop at Calang before returning to Padang (ETA 14 January).

Agung Odeck, a prominent figure in the Ubud community, has recently embarked from Padang heading for Simeulue to deliver aid. Robert Wilson of Rip Curl and Jack McNaught, a volunteer from AAAI is on board the same vessel.

Off-loaded part of the supplies until dark, with the help of the TNI amphib vessle, very tricky work. Will be finished by late afternoon if all goes well.

Plan to give all bulk supplies to main Posko on the ground, and buckets, tools etc. to Ade (our contact there) for distribution. TNI ARE HELPING IN ALL WAYS, ABSOLUTELY STERLING!! They have a regiment in place, over 1000 men, all helping, as well as a 300 ft. hospital ship with surgery aboard.
Medical needs well met at this stage. Will not need more doctors unless they are prepared to go back into the bush NOW.

Diarreah and skin disease prevalent, major. Malnutrition will be the first priority. Rice and mie for 2 weeks now. Tent camp hospital with 3-4 army doctors, patient load is light now. Meds are in supply, except for the above issues. Water is in very short supply, need to start working on wells, purification asap.

VERY difficult for ships larger than the Rejeki to get near the site.

In addition to the list yesterday, they need urgently:
Dried fish , ikan asin , local and cheap, much in need and perfect for the protein problem. Again, all hi protein food stuffs. Vitamins! Cigarettes!!!! VERY important, bring lots and lots. The entire population is traumatized.

Town is fully destroyed, one 2-story structure left standing. Pop. of 13,000 is now 6000 confirmed dead, 4000 missing. Waves reached up to 25 meters in places. All in town were killed right away. Everyone there has lost someone, high level of sorrow and depression.

We are the first concrete aid to hit the ground...TNI says vessels have put in with very little usable aid, and left without returning as promised. VERY happy to us there.

Need to get to BA and resupply NOW, as we have the perfect vessel in place. Please make this clear to all our contacts there in BA. Port of Krueng Raya has been used by the Rainbow Warrior to dock and resupply there, and would be our choice as well.

Ophans and mothers a particular problem....too many of them. Start brainstorming how to intervene, trauma/depression.

Unloading still in progress, very difficult work, using TNI amphib tender vessel. If all is smooth might be finished by night fall today.

Clarification that the large ships that are standing off are NOT aid supply, they are logistic support for the regiment stationed onshore. Another ship arrived today, same situation.

Sam has been conversant with the Major in charge, they are working together. Full cooperation in word and deed.

No overt sign of any other foreign aid on the ground, but there are about 40 -50 other non-Indonesians working in the area. (?) Having as much of that info gathered now before next arranged call...names, affiliations, etc. Also name of officer in charge. Also official statistics posted at the TNI HQ, dead, missing, displaced, etc.

Security not seen as a problem with military support such as this. There is a curfew in effect for all on the ground. Our people are staying aboard ship.

Please no more clothing....!!

Need fish, milk, vitamin tablets, tools, water containers of all kinds as well as water in the immediate, roofing materials, nails, tarps, and more fish.

Unloading still, sounds like hard work. Stefan has taken his med-pac and supplies to look after people off the beach...TNI will escort any doctors who wish to do this. Several foreign doctors are now in the field. Water engineers who were leaving (NGO info not yet available) are now staying to help with wells, utilizing our equipment. 4WD club from Jakarta has unloaded some jeeps and have been moving back into the debris strewn area behind the beach, slow progress, but opening up access to more isolated people. Call lost signal at this point.

Still keeping an eye on resupply in BA, Igor SMS from there says the road (cleared by the Aus. Military?) to KR jetty is open and the Rainbow Warrior docked took on supplies yesterday without incident. Can we get our feelers out for absolute confirmation of the TNI policy on this specific road and dock? Ausaid has legitimate concerns about TNI orders in respect to this exact spot. Please get immediate info so we can all concur on our next move.

Lee