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Posted on 12/30/2004 10:01:15 AM PST by 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.
Interesting story. Who's the source?
Source, please?
Just what I was going to ask..........that number numbs the brain.
Drudge
Who wrote this?
Incredible if true. Sometimes the mind just cannot comprehend that much death and destruction.
Please include source and link and use original titles when posting.
Thanks.
With this kind of numbers-pumping "reporting," I'm expecting heavy-duty exploitation and pilfering of donations to be taking place, a la 9/11.
Imagine the result when the next good sized asteroid plops into the ocean somewhere.
This is all so horrible. We are all so focuses on the dead and missing right now (as should be), but the economic repercussions have yet to be looked at. I wonder what kind of economic impact this will have.
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I would imagine that the oil-rich mooslim nations would be the first to line up with zillions of dollars/pounds/francs/dinars or whatever to help their fellows.
But don't bet on it.
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Aceh Earthquake and Tsunami 26 December 2004
I . EMERGENCY : December 2004 - December 2005
II. REHABILITATION February 2005-February 2009
III. RECONSRUCTION 2005
IV. TIME SCHEDULE FOR ACEH
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BUDGET I. EMERGENCY FOR 1 YEAR
II. Rehabilitation ...........- PM III. Recovery .................- PM |
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Could someone confirm that number? FOUR hundred thousand? Not 100,000?
Thanks. This thing is getting worse all the time.
Huh?
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