Quake relief operation hits snags<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The huge relief operation now underway in the
\nearthquake-stricken regency of Gunung Kerinci in Jambi, Sumatra,
\nwas beset yesterday by problems in channeling relief supplies to
\nthe quake victims.<\/p>\n
Many villages that were devastated by Saturday's powerful
\nearthquake remained in urgent need of food, medicines and
\nblankets, according to reports reaching Jakarta yesterday.<\/p>\n
There appeared to be no problem with the deployment of dozens
\nof doctors, surgeons and paramedics, including those sent by the
\nArmed Forces, to treat the thousands of injured people.<\/p>\n
An official at one of the command posts set up to deal with
\nthe disaster told The Jakarta Post yesterday that rescue workers
\nand troops were still going through the rubble of collapsed
\nbuildings in search of further survivors and bodies.<\/p>\n
By yesterday afternoon, however, they had not found any new
\nfatalities, and the death toll remained at 80, Suhaimi, the
\nofficial, said by phone from Jambi.<\/p>\n
Saturday's earthquake, measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale,
\ndevastated the regent town of Sungaipenuh and nearby towns and
\nvillages at the foot of Mt. Kerinci.<\/p>\n
Treatment<\/p>\n
Jambi officials said nearly 5,000 houses were destroyed and
\nanother 5,000 damaged by the quake. In all, around 64,000 people
\nwere displaced.<\/p>\n
Despite the arrival of medical teams from Jakarta and other
\ntowns, treatment of all of the 2,200 people injured remained a
\ndifficult task. Because of a shortage of facilities, some of the
\ninjured have been sent to hospitals in Padang and Jambi, Suhaimi
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Panic gripped many of the survivors after a tremor shook them
\nyesterday afternoon, just as they thought that the aftershocks
\nhad ended. Antara reported that the tremor measured 3.0 on the
\nRichter scale.<\/p>\n
Most of the survivors have been living in make-shift tents and
\nare anxiously awaiting the word from Jambi authorities that it is
\nsafe for them to return to what are left of their homes.<\/p>\n
Their situation has been made worse by the rain that has
\ncontinued pouring since Sunday.<\/p>\n
Reports from Jambi, meanwhile, said that cash and cash
\npledges, blankets, medicines and food flowed in yesterday from
\nJakarta and various other parts of Indonesia to beef up the
\nrelief operations.<\/p>\n
An employee of a state warehouse on Jl. Slamet Riyadi in Jambi
\nsaid the facility was still taking in donations sent directly by
\nthe public.<\/p>\n
However, Suara Pembaruan reported yesterday that a number of
\nvillages have not received any assistance yet.<\/p>\n
Jambi Governor Abdurrahman Sayoeti acknowledged that his
\noffice was having difficulties in distributing the relief aid
\nbecause of the distance from Jambi and the scattered locations of
\nthe districts affected by the earthquake.<\/p>\n
Rain has also hampered the relief operation, with one convoy
\ntaking no less than 10 hours of drive from Jambi to the Gunung
\nKerinci area, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto is scheduled to visit the disaster area
\ntoday and is expected to meet with some of the survivors to give
\nthem words of encouragement.<\/p>\n
Soeharto's daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, in her capacity
\nas chairwoman of the Indonesian Red Cross, toured the stricken
\nvillages yesterday as did Coordinating Minister for People's
\nWelfare Azwar Anas.<\/p>\n
The disaster has produced its share of profiteers.<\/p>\n
Intercity bus companies have doubled their fares from Jambi to
\nthe Gunung Kerinci regency from the normal Rp 8,000 as they seek
\nto cash in on the surge in travelers.<\/p>\n
Many shops in Sungaipenuh have also doubled their prices as
\nshortages of food and other products loom. A liter of kerosene,
\nfor example, was selling for Rp 800 yesterday, instead of the
\nnormal Rp 400, according to Antara. (rms\/anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/quake-relief-operation-hits-snags-1447893297",
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