NIAS FIELD TEAM RETURN - NEW TEAM DEPART FOR NIAS AND ACEH

Inge and Malkie have returned from the remote Nias west coast after completing the second stage of their assessment expedition. The team escorted Marshall Bailey back to Gunung Sitoli last week after he almost dislocated his right knee while playing soccer with a group of village children. "Marshall was lining up for the goals when a large local boy tackled him from behind and took his legs out from under him" said Darman, ELM's liason contact for the area. A team of villagers rigged a bamboo and cotton stretcher and carried the 82kg Marshall about 14km to the main road.

Elke and Malkie then returned to the west coast to finish the work.

A new team headed by UVI's Zachary Shields is on the way to Sibolga and will arrive in Gunung Sitoli tomorrow. Jenni Middleton and Patti Rock from Australia have joined Zack's mission to video the ELM story featuring interviews with village people who have received tents, food, medical support both in Nias and later in Aceh.