BANDA ACEH, Jan. 4 --Antara-AsiaNet/InfoQuest
Entering the 9th day of the earthquake/tsunami response in Aceh and North Sumater, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) is concentrating its operation in
Meulaboh, the most severely affected area. Since 29th December 2004, PMI
Volunteer Corps (KSR), Satgana (Disaster Response Team), Special Disaster
Response Team (Tim Khusus) and Medical Team have gradually entered Meulaboh.
Meanwhile, assistance from international community keeps flowing in
through the International Federation (International Federation of the Red
Cross and the Red Crescent Societies) and the ICRC (International
Committee of the Red Cross). The international aids come in form of
funding and goods and have reached USD 1,152,250 (including 1 million USD
from Total E&P Indonesia and Inpex Coorp.) and Rp. 14,445,676,503. Today
(3/1), the Canadian Government has pledged to donate a 650,000 Canadian
Dollars worth of goods to PMI for rehabilitation of the Blood Transfusion
Unit in Aceh, relief item procurement as well as clean water facilities.
The relief items consists of family kit, hygiene kit, instant food,
mineral water, disinfectant sprayer, evacuation equipments (body bags,
masks, gloves, and boots), as well as Vsat telecommunication equipments,
distributed through Banda Aceh and Meulaboh in the last 3 days. The relief
items and the volunteers enjoyed air transportation from RPX and land
transportation by caravans, supported by Bank Indonesia and DHL.
In Meulaboh, PMI volunteers have evacuated and buried 1,389 bodies and
provided mass health service for 500 people in the displacement camp.
Subsequently, on Tuesday (4/1), 2 orthopedics and 9 nurses from the Korean
Red Cross will arrive. In Aceh Besar, 12,000 corpses have been buried. The
local volunteers dispersed relief to 10,000 people in the emergency posts
and conducted medical treatment in 5 displacement camps for approximately
20,000 people. The mass medical treatment is conducted with the support of
RS Islam and China doctors.
PMI in cooperation with the ICRC, International Federation, Bank Indonesia and the Kuwait Embassy plans to establish field hospital (ERU/Emergency
Response Unit) in Banda Aceh and Meulaboh. Within this week, the Basic
Healthcare ERU from Japan will arrive in Meulaboh. The International
Federation has deployed FACT (Field Assessment and Coordination Team) to
carry out comprehensive assessment in Aceh Jaya and Aceh Barat district as
well as in Simeleu islands by helicopter.
To support PMI program in Aceh and North Sumatra, PMI has mobilized at
least 508 volunteers coming from various PMI Chapters, cooperating with 50
ICRC staff including 10 expatriates spread out in Banda Aceh, Meulaboh and
Lhokseumawe.
For those who would like to donate, or seek information on latest
condition on location, volunteering, tracing lost family members, and
relief distribution carried out so far by PMI, please contact PMI hotline
at +62-21-7992325 ext. 402, +62-21-7944588, +62-21-7944559, fax
+62-21-794-4633 or e-mail [email protected].
For further information, please contact PMI Public Relations, c.o. Mrs. Aswi Nugroho at +62-811-918034 (Mobile).
SOURCE: Indonesian Red Cross
--Distributed by AsiaNet (www.asianetnews.net)--