Massive aid operation starts
Massive aid operation starts
The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh/Jakarta
The country began on Monday a massive humanitarian operation in
the regions hardest hit by a devastating tsunami that swept
through Aceh and some parts of North Sumatra as the death toll
rose to 5,000, with the figure expected to increase dramatically.
Particularly along the western seaboard of Aceh, which would
have taken the brunt of the 9.0 quake and following tsunami. As
of 11:30 p.m. Monday, there had been no official reports from the
area, which has a population of nearly 1 million.
Following an announcement by President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono declaring the calamity a national disaster, relevant
agencies dispatched aid to the tsunami-hit areas.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who has predicted the toll could
surpass 25,000, chairs a natural disaster mitigation team. He
stated on Monday that the government would allocate unlimited
funds to cover the relief operations.
"We will disburse whatever funds are needed for the rescue
operation," Kalla said during a visit to the area affected by the
tidal waves in Banda Aceh on Monday.
Susilo, on his stop-over from Papua to Aceh, had ordered three
days of mourning earlier in the day for the victims in the
catastrophe, and asked citizens and offices to fly the national
flag at half-mast. Susilo spent the night in Lhokseumawe on
Monday night to observe the relief operations and will go to
Banda Aceh on Tuesday.
In Jakarta, the Ministry of Finance announced the government
had disbursed Rp 50 billion (US$5.55 million) in an initial
relief fund.
The Indonesian Military (TNI) is also taking part in the
humanitarian mission, putting on hold its operation to quash the
separatist rebels in the province. TNI chief Gen. Endriartono
Sutarto said he had ordered security authorities in Aceh to use
military facilities and personnel for the rescue operation.
"We have ordered our personnel to give priority to relief
operations to reduce the number of victims and losses,"
Endriartono told a media conference at the TNI Headquarters.
Endriartono also called for a temporary cease-fire between
military troops and Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebels so
both sides could help humanitarian efforts.
Following the tidal wave that swept through the northern part
of Sumatra hours after the quake in the Indian Ocean, military
and police personnel engaged in a search and rescue mission for
victims, mostly children and senior citizens, who were buried
under the ruins and thrown onto tree-tops.
The security personnel were also deployed to stay on guard
along the coastline to warn of possible tidal waves due to
aftershocks.
TNI has also shipped over 10,000 tons of medicine to Aceh,
flown in by five Hercules planes and five helicopters and has
dispatched warship KRI Teuku Umar for the relief operation.
Medical support has also been provided by the Ministry of
Health which will send 44 doctors, including surgeons,
pediatricians and radiologists to Aceh.
Earlier, the ministry had delivered four tons of medicine to
treat diarrhea, influenza and skin diseases. It also sent
thousands of body bags to the tsunami-hit regions.
The Ministry of Public Works pledged on Monday to send heavy
equipment to help rebuild houses leveled by the tidal wave, which
in some areas reached 10 meters high.
"The equipment includes three 30-meter-long transportable
bridges, water tanks and 60 portable toilets," Public Works
Minister Djoko Kirmanto said.
In Banda Aceh, the local administration allocated a three-
hectare plot of land for a mass grave, located near Sultan
Iskandar Muda Airport.
On Nias Island, which lies close to the quake epicenter, a
search and rescue team continued its search for victims who were
washed away by the tidal wave. The official death toll from the
tsunami on Nias and islands in its vicinity reached 122.
Editorial -- Page 6
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