DR ALIZA'S Day - 31st JANUARY

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

SMELL OF DEATH & DETTOL

By Rick & Jason at 30 Jan 2005 - 17:32

Just 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.

KAMPUNG SAWANG - A Tragic Situation

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.

THE SITUATION IN PATEK

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.

MEULABOH - A CHOPPER IS WAITING

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 ...

CARE MATERIAL DELIVERED TO SINGKIL

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.

REFUELING IN SIBOLGA

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

ELM PARTNERS LIST

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!

ALMOST IN SIBOLGA... and Bu Is is on board to cook!

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!

DUE IN SIBOLGA AT 2300

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.

NYC Doctor Joins The Lamb

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.

BATAVIA HEADING FOR SIBOLGA

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.

PADANG - BATAVIA FULLY LOADED!

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.

BATAVIA IN PADANG

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.

RAINS SLOW AID

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

CNN - Tsunami deaths soar past 2CNN - Tsunami deaths soar past 212,000

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

Urgent Medical Needs

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

Salam Malaysia Commits 5 Relief Workers to Mission

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.

KM BATAVIA LOADING - JAKARTA

KM Batavia loading starts 1100 hours Wednesday January 19, 2005 at Perlabuhan Nusantara Dermaga 004 Utara. Masuk Pintu Satu tanjung Priok.

Calang camp Population now over 10,000

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.

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE along NW Simeulue Coast

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.

UN TARGETS TSUNAMI VICTIMS IN REMOTE INDONESIA

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

SURFERS FORM A CIRCLE for Tsunami Victims

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."

GROUND ZERO SIMEULUE - FIELD REPORT

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.

MOTHERSHIP BATAVIA - Loading Jakarta Monday 17th

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.

SINGKIL OFFICIALS - PADANG BOATS ARE HELPING THE BANYAKS

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

KM SEMBILAN HEADS BACK TO BANYAKS

MSF CH (Doctors without Borders- Switzerland) have sent a team of 4 doctors to Banyak Islands and Simeulue on KM Sembilan. After some high drama caused by fuel rationing, Aus Aid helped out with documentation so that we could fill the tanks. Fuel is becoming critically short in many ports as facilities are overloaded. Sinabang (Simeulue Island) reports only 9 tons available. Prices have risen to Rp3,000 /ltr in the islands compared to the pump price of Rp1,850/ltr. Thanks to the Aus Aid team for their continuing support.

REPORT FROM IDEP - SUMBER REZIKI

This morning I called IDEP boat coordinator Lee Downey in Bali: "Do you need more boats to supply Calang and the coast north and south of Calang?"

Lee replied: "Are you joking?! 10 ships like Sumber Reziki will not be enough for Calang and we know there are towns and villages all up and down the coast that are very very bad."

Lee reports that in addition to the "relief needs" list yesterday, they urgently need:
• Dried fish , ikan asin , local and cheap, much in need and perfect for the protein problem.
• Again, all hi protein food stuffs.
• Vitamins
• Cigarettes!
• The entire population is traumatized.

The town is completely destroyed, only a single 2-story structure is 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 instantaneously. Everyone there has lost someone, and there is a high level of sorrow and depression.

We are the first concrete aid to hit the ground; TNI (Indonesian Army) says vessels have put in with very little useable aid, and left without returning as promised. They were VERY happy to have us there.

Need to get to BA and resupply NOW, as we have the perfect vessel in place. The port of Krueng Raya has been used by the Rainbow Warrior to dock and resupply, and would be our choice as well.

Orphans and mothers a particular problem....too many of them. Start brainstorming how to intervene, trauma/depression.
Picture of the Sumber Reziki:

The following are extracts from IDEP org field reports assembled by Lee who has been coordinating the deployment of the 200 ton Sumber Reziki that sailed from Padang to Aceh 10 days ago.(editted for clarity)

Jan 13:
Sam and I are in concurrence. It is frustrating to know that while Calang is now in extreme need, and every hour counts; the necessary food and materials is just sitting in warehouses now in BA.

Boats are in very short supply to make the coastal deliveries, and we have one. We are ready to help ANYONE who wants to inject direct aid into a difficult area NOW.

Fielded calls from a few of the groups we canvassed the day before, made more calls to begin the process of trucking the goods pledged down to the dock for loading. Marita from IOM came along with the cooking equipment and a ton of sugar to the boat. Casey at the WFP got the trucks running and sent down 40 tons of rice. Other aid included boxes of milk powder and biscuits, also mosquito nets and blankets.

Filled about half the boat by 5:00 pm, fuel was on the way when Sam and Stefan went into town to knock on some doors. Oded surveyed the town: shops were open, business running. Hoping to find the goods we want for sale in bulk, figuring out what the quickest way to transfer funds to Aceh from Bali would be. Possibility of more goods to coming through the aid community in the morning.

Jan 11
1300H: Call from Sam on the Sumber Rejeki via Sat Phone:

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

Sam has been in communication with the Major in charge and 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.

1530H: Call from Sam on the Sumber Rezeki via Sat Phone

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.

PROFESSOR NICK BOURNE advocates our cause in the National Assembly for Wales

Partially reproduced: excerpted from the HTML version of "The Record of Proceedings of the the Second Assembly of Wales"; 5pm, 12/01/2005. (linked here)

Professor Nick Bourne AM is the Leader of the Conservative Group in the National Assembly for Wales

5.00 p.m.

Nick Bourne: I am grateful to Mike German for, rightly, picking this topic and for allowing time over and above what is usually allowed for contributions to the short debate. I have spoken this morning to people in Malaysia who are organising relief efforts in Indonesia. These people have given up their jobs to concentrate on the work full time. I was given an update on the position in the region, where there are massive ongoing problems. The number of dead has been greatly understated, and, from what one can gather, the figure is likely to be well in excess of a quarter of a million. Many have lost their lives in Indonesia, and the country is riddled with remote villages. People there face problems relating to dysentery, hunger and trauma. As Ieuan indicated, trauma is a massive problem, and the young children are afraid of the water. It is a matter of getting money to the region, as well as of sending people on secondment. The local people will respond to people who can speak their own language more than they will to people who are seconded to the region to provide medical care. We should not lose sight of this important point. The most important resource needed is money, and we must pay tribute to those who have organised the concert at the Millennium Stadium.

Mike and Ieuan are right to say that this will be an ongoing issue and, even though it may disappear off the radar and from our television screens and newspapers, it will still be a problem. We need to invest money in infrastructure for the long term. I urge Members to look at the website, <>

It is well worth looking at the website as it provides daily updates on the situation. I ask the First Minister to respond to the points about how we can help to address the serious issues in the region.

SURFER'S PATH MAGAZINE'S "Monday Morning Wave" in support.

Monday Morning Wave:
Lagundri Bay, Nias. Photo : David Pu'u.
http://www.surfaidinternational.org
http://www.mentawai.com/aceh1.html

Earth is a living planet, and each of us is just a visitor
here. As surfers, our particular play is practiced along the
wild edge of where land and sea meet in dynamic dialogue. As
surfers, we know some of the dangers of the playground, but
none of us can predict the larger scale expressions of nature's
innate power. She reminds us by searing our consciousness with
her mighty and anonymous strength, and we return to the sea and
the waves at our own peril. Yet return we do.
(Drew Kampion)

The links above will take you to two surf-related aid groups
operating in the devastated islands off Sumatra. The much loved
surfing grounds of Nias, the Bandak Islands and Simeulue were
nearest to the centre of the Decmber 27th earthquake and the
last to be reached by any emergency teams. Money, practical
assistance and support are urgently needed.

We recommend that you follow these links to find out how you
can help, because in some way, we all can.

The Surfer's Path is the only "green" surf magazine - printed
on 100 percent postconsumer recycled paper (using no chlorine
bleach) with non-GMO soy inks.

Help us spread the stoke! Recommend Monday Morning Wave to a
friend with this link.

SWELL OF THE WEEK: EUROPE
Visit wetsand.com for free global surf forcasts.
Subscription info: www.surferspath.com

WHO REPORTS

This is a synopsis. Original at the World Health Organization;

Communicable diseases

Measles immunization campaigns have begun in northern Sumatra (Aceh and Medan) to addressed reported measles cases in Banda Aceh and suspected cases in Meulaboh. The number of cases of different diseases are increasing, but no outbreaks reported.

Environmental Health (access to safe water and hygiene, sanitation situation)

Basic sanitation infrastructure in Meulaboh is severely disrupted and safe water must be distributed from centralized points. Large-scale capacity containers and smaller containers for carrying are needed.

Health system and infrastructure (functioning health facilities, access etc)

In Meulaboh, only one functional hospital remains on the outskirts of the city, reportedly supported by MSF, with one emergency room, one surgical suite and one inpatient ward of 20 beds. Field hospitals are being deployed by the French army.

WHO Country Information

The fate of nearly one million people along the western coast Aceh is slowly being assessed with anecdotal reports of death rates in excess of 50%. 70,000 people are still unaccounted. The highest priority is getting aid to those it has not yet reached.

JANE'S TRIP REPORT - SIROMBU NIAS

On Thursday the 6th we arrived in Sirombu (purple dot on the map), a harbour town on the West coast of Nias. The tsunamis had come from two directions knocking down most of the houses and shops in the port.



Twelve people had died.

The church was still intact and a few of the houses, but most of the place was trashed. I walked through huge heaps of rubble and tangled wreckage in a landscape of brown dying foliage that looked as though it had been combed and made to lie down. The coconut trees seem to have been the most hardy. The ones still vertical are still alive. People are sitting inside what is left of the few houses still standing. They are living there in houses with half the walls missing that look like they might fall over with another quake or simply a strong wind.

A few people are fossiking in the rubble engulfing their houses: making little stacks of cement bricks still intact, pulling out crumpled aluminium cooking pots, muddy clothing. Further along what is left of the road is a small Indonesian red cross tent, set up as a community kitchen. People are riding push bikes and smiling as they approach me. An old lady wrapped in rags comes and shakes my hand.

One man is trying to burn a a thatched roof tangled up with rubbish that is blocking his front yard, but it is too wet. I ask him if everyone is going to work together to clean up, he looked
a bit doubtful, then smiled looking around him at all the chaos.

I thought a couple of front end loaders would go a long way right now. The only thing remotely like that I had seen was an old yellow steam roller parked diagonally across a hole in the road with a dog underneath it busily eating the head of a dead dog.

An official of some kind approached me and said conditions were much worse 25 kilometers north in the Kecamatan of Mandrehe. All the houses had been destroyed and 113 people were dead. The survivors, 700 people were crowded into a school building that was being used as a refugee camp.

Before I left Padang, an employee of mine had asked me to try and find his brothers' family who lived in Mandrehe as he had been unable to get in touch with them. Elvis, one of the deckhands on our boat is originally from Nias. He was able to hire some motorbikes and take the doctors to the refugee camp.

When they came back, hours after dark, they told us that conditions there were very not very good. They did not have enough toilets or clean water, and that if they did not get some help in soon, they thought a cholera outbreak was very possible.

We had unloaded sacks of rice and noodles, sugar, clothing, tarps, and some tools, the church was going to distribute it and some was going to the refugee camp. Elvis and I were unable to find Sam's brother and his family or any news of their whereabouts. He is still trying.

ROLLS ROYCE , HSBC, STANDARD CHARTERED DONATE GEAR. Thanks!

PT Polytech are working round the clock to fit out 6 of their unbreakable 6.2m utility boats for delivery to Padang on Saturday 15th January. The boats, 40 hp engines, radios, anchors and other gear have been donated by Rolls Royce, HSBC Indonesia and Standard Chartered Bank.



Reports from BA confirm that even the toughest millitary spec Zodiacs are being trashed in hours as they try to deal with the piles of trashed timber and rusty nails that litter the foreshore. Polytech boats are moulded in one piece in a huge rotating oven in their high tech factory outside Jakarta. The boats are close to indestructable and can be used for SAR, fisheries, transport or tourism. After serving as beach landing boats for our mother-ship, these boats will be donated to villages community in remote locations.

One mother-ship could support up to 20 of these workhourses for ferrying aid to beaches, river mouths, small islands and into ports that are too badly damaged to be used by larger shipping.

TRAVEL WARNING

TNI (Indonesian military) and Singaporean military have put out security warning on areas south of Meulaboh. They expressly mentioned NGO efforts to visit west coast Sumatra communities by boat as "dangerous" and that they cannot guarantee safety.

SUMBER REZIKI FIRST AID BOAT IN CALANG

Lee from IDEP has just been talking to Sam on Sumber Reziki. TNI forces are working hand in hand to unload the boat and get aid to traumatized survivors. Calang had a population of 15,000. There are 6,000 confirmed dead 4,000 missing and 2,000 in a makeshift camp. There are several thousand people who are camped in the mountains and hills and who will only venture down to the coast to search for food.

Most of the survivors are traumatized and health conditions are critical.

People are very hungry and some are showing signs of malnutrition. Diarrhea and skin infections are rife. There are some foreign medical teams working in the town but drugs for these problems are exhausted.

Sumber Reziki is the first boat to get supplies into the area and the Bupati and the troops are extremely relieved to see them. So much more is needed:
• Dried fish, high protein foods
• Tarps and shelter materials
• Water storage and jerry cans + water treatment chemicals
• Tools

Resupply for Sumber Reziki (pictured below) is proving very difficult.

SUMBER REZIKI SAFE

Sumber Reziki has reported that they are safe and that no one was hurt in the quake. They are evaluating the situation in the camp and have already flagged a high probability of cholera if water supply and hygiene are not given urgent attention.

6.2 QUAKE HITS CALANG, ACEH

A 6.2 Quake hit the area round Calang this morning at 0512hrs. We are trying to establish contact with the 80ft timber ferry KM Sumber Reziki , reported to have arrived there last night. Initial reports are that there are about 2,000 people in a very poorly set up camp and maybe 5,000 more camped in the hills. Health conditions are appalling and food/water are not getting through.

BBC/METRO TV FOOTAGE

BBC/METRO TV footage just released of the wave comming down a street in BA helps me understand what survivors have seen and will live with for the rest of their lives. It is simply beyond comprehension.

So is this. Over the last few days Jane and I have heard several aid people say that the West coast is "ok because the helicopters are there now"! Or.... "dont worry, that part of the coast is run by the Americans"

Mind you they are sitting in luxury hotel rooms and maybe they can't relate to the chilling reality of what has happened along hundreds of miles of coastline in tens of thousands of streets and to hundreds of thousands of people.

Lets move heaven and earth to help.

LETTER TO SURFERS AGAINST SEWERAGE

On 09/01/2005, at 2:39 PM, Simon wrote:

> Hi guys,
>
> I didnt know what category to put this under, there isnt one for
> emergency.
>
> Let me introduce myself. My name is Simon Hegarty, and somewhere in
> your database you'll find Im a member of SAS, or have been at diferent
> points. I'd just like to say that I've always been a great admirer of
> the work you've done, and are continuing with.
>
> Ill cut to the chase. It's currently 2.33pm on Sunday afternoon, and
> Im in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Im a Welsh man who finds himself in the
> middle of the biggest relief aid effort that the modern world has
> seen, and I need some help.
>
> After coming back from a surf trip in Malaysia, with little coverage
> of the tsunami, I found myself compelled to do something......a
> feeling Im sure you know all too well. My business partner, a woman
> called Pia Zain, and I immediately found this website
> http://www.mentawai.com/aceh.html
>
> We decided direct action was the best, and ended up speaking directly
> to Rick Cameron.
>
> Rick has lived in Mentawais for 20 years, and has run surf charters
> for the surf world. He is the only one, other surf orgs included, who
> is still trying to get to the most inaccesable areas. It is now 14
> days since the tsunami struck.
>
> From Rick down, we are all volunteers.
>
> I spoke to Rick this morning, and he is especially keen to do this
> right, and to keep the communities at risk in tact, whilst giving them
> the support they need to begin building their lives again. It is the
> bottom line.
>
> Rick is especially keen to include the surf community in this, and
> this is why Im writing to you.
>
> Alex Dick-Read, editor of The Surfers Path is already helping, and by
> the time you read this, you will see this in practical terms in the
> form of the Monday Morning Wave that they put out. But this is only
> the beginning, and we are looking specifically for help from Surfers,
> in ANY way. Whether that be practical on hands immediate help, or an
> email from a city bound surfer to Rick, saying hi, and wishing him
> luck, or two mates in the pub talking about it to non surfers.
> Literally anything.
>
> Ive turned to you guys because quite simply, I know from having
> followed you for so long now that you are particularly good at raising
> awareness. Dont worry, Im not asking you to divert all your resources
> over to it, but if you could just spend five minutes of your
> management meeting talking about it. That in itself would be
> fabulous. If you could post something on your website, next time Im
> in the UK, Ill come buy you a cup of tea...or two.
>
> As I said, we are all volunteers, working at the epicentre of this
> tsunami, where they are still getting up to one quake an hour in some
> places.
>
> This is a grass roots operation, and I know from your grass roots
> beginnings that you will understand.
>
> Please feel free to use the website address as you wish. My phone is
> on 24/7, and you can contact me on that if you wish as well as
> emailing me....which you can also feel free to pass on to whoever you
> wish.
>
> Ill stop there, and just please urge you to take a look at the website.
>
> Mahalo and aloha
>
> Simon

VOLUNTEERS CONFIRM

Team,
Have spoken to Bron and she is coming. I said no guarantees and asked
her to bring ssb(s), vhf(s) both hand held and fixed, sat phone(s). Can
add to this list if you think of things.
Jane is in bound from the islands and I want to sit with her tomorrow
before I invite full house.
We could handle about 10 now but more if we can get some 'puters and so
on.
Sleep on floor etc.
have to keep some space to stay sane and a crowd will require
maintenance.
Departure windows:
Jak departure
earliest Mon 10th pm
latest Tues 11th pm

Transit 40-45 hrs

Pad departure
earliest Thurs 13 pm
latest Sat 15th

JANE LEAVES FOR NIAS - FIELD REPORT BANYAKS

Jane has left on Baranjoie, a 70 ft charter boat with a team of doctors and nurses under the leadership of Dr.Derek Allen from SAI. A team of local doctors arrived this morning from Jakarta arranged by our friend and experienced Padang hand Lynnette Johnson.

Electric Lamb and Sembilan are in the Banyak islands. They have just visited Haloban Village and report as follows:
• The tsunami swept about 500 m into the village engulfingabout 80% of the houses.
• The height of the tsunami was about 1.3 to 1.5m.
• Most people ran to high ground after the earthquake so only one person was injured. Dr Johnson treated him for cuts and abrasions.
• 30 houses were destroyed and about 70 houses damaged but repairable.
• There are about 1,000 people in or around the village. Many have moved to their ladang pondoks to be away from the ocean. They are traumatized and have no rice and only coconuts and garden produce.
• Malaria has broken out with 10 new cases in the past few days.
• Water is not a problem as they can walk a short distance to find wells that have not been filled with salt water.
• The Kepala Desa supervised the distribution of family support kits..... there is more to report on this.... soon

NEXT STOP BANYAK ISLANDS - COORDINATION MEETING PADANG

Both boats anchored in Teluk Dalam to rest and then departed about 2am so that they would arrive in the Banyak Islands with good light. The area has many reefs and it is dangerous to navigate in the dark.

Dr Dave Jenkins and Dr.Derek Allen arrived to head up the Surf Aid International team.

A co-ordination meeting was held at Batang Arau Hotel and here's the list:
• Dave Jenkins (SurfAid International)
• Dr.Derek Allen (Surf Aid International)
• Jossi Syahrial (SurfAid International)
• Oded Carmi ( IDEP)
• Lee Downey (IDEP)
• Samuel Schultz (IDEP)
• Marco Savio ( MerciCorps)
• Evie Woro ( MerciCorps)
• Widya Setyowati (AusAid)
• Kerry Leigh ( AusAid)
• Aldes & Arfan ( Yayasan Citra Mandiri)
• Dr.Nazaruddin & Ibu Rasyidah ( Red Cross West Sumatera)
• Amsaruddin Chan (Muhammadiyah)
• Ilpi Zukdi ( Muhammadiyah)
• Rick Cameron ( Great Breaks International)
• Jane Liddon (Sumatran Sewing Circle)
• Martin Daly ( Indies Trader)
• John Dudley ( Australian Naval Attache – AusAid)

ELM are asked to retire and leave Quiksilver and Martin Daly to manage the on-going fleet effort?? We decide to ignore this odd decision and press on independently.

SURVEY PULAU PINI & TELUK DALAM NIAS

The 2 ELM boats did a passing survey of the West end of Pulau Pini in the Batu Group (Telos) and discussed the situation with local fishermen. They reported tidal surges but no flooding or loss of life.

They proceeded to Nias Island in bad weather. Both boats stopped in Teluk Dalam for fuel. The town reported no casualties but there was some damage to structures near the shoreline. An overland survey confirmed earlier reports that Legundi village had been damaged extensively but again, no casualties. We did not attempt to assess the damage as the area has good communications, fuel and food. Obviously many families have lost most of their possessions but it seems that the tsunami came in three phases and each was more sever. People were curious when the tide went out the first time and some had run out onto the exposed sand to collect fish. When the first surge came it was not very large but when the cycle repeated, everyone decided to run to high ground.

KM SEMBILAN & ASIA DEPART

KM Sembilan departed Padang with supplies for 200 families, a Padang city administration doctor and paramedic, and our company staff on board. KM Asia departed within hours headed for North Siberut and the Telos.