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Aid Trucks Hijacked
(This is a field report from IDEP, an Indonesian aid organization based in Bali. IDEP is working with the Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS) and others to get aid to the northwest coast of Aceh. This is the area which it is feared is most effected by the tsunami but from which little information has been received.)
Jan 1, 2004
Bali Indonesia
IDEP Foundation
A second convoy of 17 trucks / vans left Medan with forestry and police at 5 am today, which has gotten as far as Langsa, and are on the road to Banda Aceh. The bad news is that it was pouring rain as the fleet went out. We’ve had the first reports of GAM (Aceh Independence Movement), causing problems on the road, they took 3 trucks of food in Biren. Also, en route, one truck in the convoy blew a tire and ended up on its side, one team member broke an arm but all are ok. No news as of yet as to how yesterday’s convoy is managing to administer aid as we lost telephone contact with them for now.
Air drops by military helicopter have been observed using splatter type techniques, indiscriminately tossing out marginally valuable aid, such as boxes of dried noodles, in the Meulaboh area. And this, with no visible recipients on the ground, in many cases, over waterlogged areas. In contrast, our approach is to be able to focus aid appropriately, and intelligently, providing the best possible immediate and longer term Survival Value Per Kilo to visible, tangible recipients.
The Orangutan Information Centre (SOS-OIC) is continuing to purchase and pack supplies for the Aceh Aid Bucket Brigade with funds we have transferred to them in Medan.
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