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.
Well,I got branded as an IslamoFascist/Nazi for just that & I was only replying to someone specifically.Hope you got that privilege too!!
Agreed!
And I'm sure they'll be supping on only the finest fare while they drink rare wines and wave their manicured fingers in mock concern...
Actually in one of those pics from around Meulaboh or one of those Western Aceh cities everything is leveled for miles around, except for a single intact Mosque.
Sort of Ironic considering Quix's comments that started the whole orginal flamewar on the first quake thread.
One can always wash one's hands or even not shake hands.
Kind of hard to wash out your system once the germs are in your mouth.
Malaysia was the 2004 host for the OIC.
I am sorry, but this is a ridiculous statement when all the guy said is that Indonesia is an islamic country that has made itself clear how much they hate the US.
As a Christian country we will help them in their time of need, but it does not mean we stick our head in the sand and become stupid. Islamic Indonesia is no friend, and stating that fact does not make one a hate-monger.
Know thine enemy, and we do, but we will still come to their aid (the true picture of a hateful people). I am sick of PC garbage that does not let us speak in plain terms, and would leave us unaware and unprepaired for the reality of the world. That is where the real sickness lies.
Thanks, and no hard feelings. Misunderstandings get pretty common when the trolls are doing everything possible to make our blood boil.
well, they dont french kiss the thing do they? people put their hands in their mouth all the time.
Thank you for the support. That's all I was getting at. I don't know why people are flipping out on this thread.
I try to lurk over there sometimes, but I simply can't last more than a minute or so.
The conspiracies, delusions, insanities, curses, spells, lies, falsehoods, inaccuracies, hatefulness, racism, bitterness are just too much for me to stomch.
The best part is that these people truly believe that your average American will someday vote for them.
I just wish I did not get thrown out of there so soon.
I expected the non-varifiable death toll to go up in proportion to the amount of aid money in the feeding trough.
And what other countries were there? Any from the affected region?
I asked you what was correct aboutit. I did not claim it was incorrect.
Thanks.
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