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.
They can't get to many of the areas affected. What's even more sobering is the realization that this figure does not include Sri Lanka, Thailand, etc...
It's imperative that they get some sort of disease containment plan in place before they worry about locating more bodies.
You saw ALL these people jump for joy when the towers were attacked, did you?
That's the one
You're a total moron. Ignorant and beyond.
So, you're of the opinion that a muslim newbord had his or her death coming?
Incredible
They're all the same, don't you know?
(Of course they're about the most undermotived blood thirsty animals I've ever heard of. Or maybe 99.9% of them are just tired and don't have the energy to attack us?)
Indonesia is in no way our friend. The vast majority of that country's citizens see us as the enemy of Islam and they DO want us dead.
At the same time, a tragedy of this magnitude cannot be viewed as their comeuppance or as an excuse for our basic goodness as human beings being set aside.
All life is precious. We profess that when decry abortion and the beheadings of our people by muslim extremists and insurgents.
I would still not wish that Tsunami on my worst enemy, and perhaps history will remember us kindly. If not, at least G_d will, and that is all that really counts when the chips get cashed in.
You are sick.
Another dolt joins this thread. Welcome, idiot.
Question: Where would you live if a tsunami destroyed your Jeep?
All of the hate-mongers are joining this thread. You're the third loser I've counted so far.
Cry me a river.
This is like Christmas morning for the inbreds. They'll be popping open bottles of schedenfreude on New Years Eve, I'm sure.
And a newbie troll to boot. A month into your FR membership, and you're shwoing your ignorant hate.
Could you explain this please. I genuinely want to understand your point of view.
Why can't you people leave that stuff for the thousands of other threads on FR where Muslims ARE bashed?
This is a thread about 400,000 DEAD PEOPLE; it's very telling that you can't restrain yourself for ONE THREAD.
Um, yes it can. And you're the winn -- uh, er -- loser.
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