Bodies litter Aceh as famine looms

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.

Editorial -- Page 6
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