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.