Indonesia Needs Help, Death Toll Expected To Exceed 400,000

Drudge Report ^ | 12/30/04

[Keith Burwell]

Indonesia Needs Help, Death Toll Expected To Exceed 400,000 Thu Dec 30 2004 12:52:01 ET

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 (Bernama) -- The death toll in Acheh, the region worst hit by last Sunday's tsunami, may exceed 400,000 as many affected areas could still not be reached for search and rescue operations, Indonesia's Ambassador to Malaysia Drs H. Rusdihardjo said Thursday.

He said the estimate was based on air surveillance by Indonesian authorities who found no signs of life in places like Meulaboh, Pulau Simeulue and Tapak Tuan while several islands off the west coast of Sumatera had "disappeared".

He said the latest death toll of more than 40,000 in Acheh and northern Sumatera did not take into account the figures from the other areas, especially in the west of the region.

"Aerial surveillance found the town of Meulaboh completely destroyed with only one buiding standing. The building, which belonged to the military, happens to be on a hill," he told reporters after receiving RM1 million in aid for Indonesia's Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund here Thursday.

Rusdihardjo said there were about 150,000 residents in Meulaboh, which was located 150km from the epicentre of the earthquake while Pulau Simeuleu had a population of 76,000.

The contributions were from several corporate giants.

Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), represented by Chairman Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid, gave RM200,000; Guthrie, represented by Chief Executive Officer Datuk Abdul Wahab Maskan, gave RM200,000; Golden Hope Plantations Berhad, represented by Group Director for Corporate, Legal and Public Affairs Norlin Abdul Samad, gave RM200,000; Maybank, represented by Head of Public Affairs Wan Norhiyati Ibrahim, gave RM200,000 and Sime Darby Group's Motor Division, represented by Director Yip Jon Khiam, also gave RM200,000.

Ahmad Sarji also handed over a PNB contribution to Utusan's Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund, which was received by Utusan Melayu (Malaysia) Executive Chairman Tan Sri Hashim Makarudin to help Malaysian tsunami victims.

Ambassador Rusdihardjo said a combination of earthquake and tsunami had left 80 to 100 per cent of infrastructure in Acheh province, such as hospitals, health centres, transport and communication networks and homes, destroyed.

"Looking at the scale of destruction, it's difficult to say when the search and rescue operations can be mounted in all affected areas," he said.

He said rescue efforts were hampered by transportation difficulties and lack of fuel.

Rusdihardjo said that at this time international help, especially in the form of medicines, clean water, food and clothing, were desperately needed by Indonesia to aid survivors in Acheh.

"Now we are worried about the outbreak of diseases such as cholera, the work of disposing corpses and the absence of clean water following the contamination of water sources," he said.

[BayouCoyote]

Is that you Miss Cleo?;P

You claim to know the answer to the question before I can respond. Why even ask the Q?

[Freedom Dignity n Honor]

I agree.

I do see a fundamental differences between us and them (them being not only the Arab Muslim terrorists but also the Indonesian Mulim terrrorists that set off bombs in Bali, etc.) but still my heart and prayers go out to all of these people affected by this disaster.

We do what we do because that's who and what we are.

[Ramius]

I believe what we're seeing lately are simply DU trolls signing up here, posting some sort of hateful rhetoric only so that they can run back to DU and link to it to "prove" what a bunch of knuckledraggers we are.

Kinda juvenile, really.

[Bogey78O]

Now we're getting into the portion that Stalin referred to as "statistics"

[cake_crumb]

"I've only seen Buddhist temples on the news. I thought, but could be wrong, that Indonesia was mostly Buddhist."

No, mostly Muslim.

[G32]

"In other words, if they were all bad, America would be a smoldering heap, and it's not"

Give it a few more years, don't be impatient.

[notigar]

well, you agreed with the comment that's now been removed. Great company you keep.

[investigateworld]

Thanks, your insight on that part of the world is always welcome.

[aShepard]

....Anyone know of any disaster worse then this on record if it reaches 400,000? ....

This disaster kinda put into perspective the efficiency of Hitler offing a few million Jews in a few years; or Stalin with his few million; or a Saddam, offing what 500,000; or the various African countries/tribes who are hacking off the heads of as many they can find as we speak.

[AirForceMom]

Seeing you put this kind of remark on another thread........can I ask what is wrong with you?

[notigar]

I think they meant natural disaster.

[Clara Lou]

Dead on accurate.
And shame on you as well.

[backslacker]

Don't let your hearts bleed too much.

M't:5:43: Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

M't:5:44: But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

M't:5:45: That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

M't:5:46: For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

M't:5:47: And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

M't:5:48: Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Definition:
Publican - Political office created by the Romans to help collect taxes in the provinces. Actually, the title "tax collector" is more correct than the older term "publican" in refering to the lowest rank in the structure. Zacchaeus is called a "chief tax collector(Luke 19:2), probably indicating one who contracted with the government to collect taxes, and who in turn hired others to do the actual work. In NT times people bid for the job of chief tax collector and then exacted the tax plus a profit from the citzens. Most of the offices were filled by Romans, although some natives got the bids. Publicans were held in the lowest esteem because of their excessive profits, being placed in the same category as harlots (Matt. 21:32). Jesus was accused of eating with and befriending them (Matt 9:11) --Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary

[G32]

Explain?

[Sprite518]

Wow! This is bad folks if this is true. We should all pray for these people regardless of what they think of us. What a tragedy!

[cake_crumb]

What was true about it? That every single man, woman and child in every one of the affected areas jumped for joy when "our towers were hit", that they **all** deserved to die or both?

[tomkat]

(grant an oldtimer a favor, even if he's not been around for awhile ?)

How 'bout one of y'all grabbin' the FRaid and give this thread a good sprayin' ?

TIA

[nuconvert]

I'm so sorry.
My condolences to you for any losses you may suffer.
This is beyond comprehension.
I hope you hear from your friends soon.

[G32]

Read before you post. I was responding to #89. Tell me what's incorrect about 89.