Bodies litter Aceh as famine looms

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Medan

With medicine, food and body bags in short supply, electricity and communications still mostly down, the threat of disease is looming in Aceh, while the death toll after tidal waves swept through the northern part of Sumatra on Sunday continued to increase.

Hundreds of bodies found under the rubble and scattered on seashores had not yet been recovered on Tuesday due to the shortage of humanitarian workers, posing a serious threat to the health of survivors.

Humanitarian relief, especially food and medicine, was still being held in Medan, North Sumatra, and Jakarta as much of the province remained submerged, cutting off roads and radio and telephone communications were down.

Relief workers warned on Tuesday of possible outbreaks of diarrhea and skin diseases since there were difficulties in obtaining clean water and hygienically prepared food.

The death toll surged to at least 27,000 on Tuesday, with 1,164 still missing. But the figure could increase because no data is available concerning the casualties and other damage on the west coast of Aceh which is close to the quake epicenter, which caused the tsunamis.

Aerial observation by the Air Force reported that houses and other buildings in most villages and towns in the western and eastern parts of Aceh were leveled.

Only a small number of refugees were evacuated to Medan while most were staying in refugee camps for fear of aftershocks and recurring tidal waves.

With food quickly running out, refugees and other survivors may face starvation in the next few days. Police said time was running out for survivors as looting had broken out and starvation loomed.

After observing the magnitude of the humanitarian problems caused by the disaster, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ordered the immediate restoration of telecommunication lines linking Aceh and other parts of the country, and the quick distribution of food, medicines, clothing and tents.

"I watched myself a lot of people seeking refuge in various places. This must be addressed as soon as possible to prevent any further suffering," Susilo told a media conference in Medan on his way back to Jakarta after a two-day visit to Aceh.

The President also asked that bodies be recovered and fuel distributed to survivors.

Susilo said he had appointed North Sumatra governor Rizal Nurdin to coordinate the humanitarian relief mission in Aceh and North Sumatra.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla, meanwhile, spent the day observing the west coast of Aceh and North Sumatra, the areas closest to the quake epicenter.

The government, backed by international aid groups, sent more plane-loads of emergency supplies into Banda Aceh's airport, which has been reopened, while the military said it would set up two mobile hospitals in the province.

The Navy is to deploy its entire western fleet to help relief efforts, sending seven warships, planes and helicopters.

A working team of the National Disaster Management Coordination Body announced on Tuesday the government was facing difficulties in channeling aid to victims.

"Aid has started to pile up at the relief posts set up by the government, but we have yet to be able to distribute the aid due to a break down in transportation," said secretary to Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Sutejo Juwono.

The government, therefore, called on foreign countries to provide helicopters to distribute the aid, particularly for victims in remote areas.

"We need helicopters to distribute food, water, clothing, generators and tents to victims in isolated areas," Sutejo said.

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