PMI Focuses Its Response Operations in Meulaboh
Banda Aceh, Indonesia (ots/PRNewswire)
Entering the 9th day of the earthquake/tsunami response in Aceh and North Sumater, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) is concentrating its operation in Meulaboh, the most severely affected area. Since 29th December 2004, PMI Volunteer Corps (KSR), Satgana (Disaster Response Team), Special Disaster Response Team (Tim Khusus) and Medical Team have gradually entered Meulaboh.
Meanwhile, assistance from the international community keeps flowing in through the International Federation (International Federation of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent Societies) and the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross). The international aids come in the form of funding and goods and have reached USD 1,152,250 (including 1 million USD from Total E&P Indonesia and Inpex Corp.) and Rp. 14,445,676,503. Today (3/1), the Canadian Government has pledged to donate a 650,000 Canadian Dollars worth of goods to PMI for rehabilitation of the Blood Transfusion Unit in Aceh, relief item procurement as well as clean water facilities. The relief items consists of family kit, hygiene kit, instant food, mineral water, disinfectant sprayer, evacuation equipments (body bags, masks, gloves, and boots), as well as Vsat telecommunication equipments, distributed through Banda Aceh and Meulaboh in the last 3 days. The relief items and the volunteers enjoyed air transportation from RPX and land transportation by caravans, supported by Bank Indonesia and DHL.
In Meulaboh, PMI volunteers have evacuated and buried 1,389 bodies and provided mass health service for 500 people in the displacement camp. Subsequently, on Tuesday (4/1), 2 orthopedics and 9 nurses from the Korean Red Cross will arrive. In Aceh Besar, 12,000 corpses have been buried. The local volunteers dispersed relief to 10,000 people in the emergency posts and conducted medical treatment in 5 displacement camps for approximately 20,000 people. The mass medical treatment is conducted with the support of RS Islam and China doctors.
PMI in cooperation with the ICRC, International Federation, Bank Indonesia and the Kuwait Embassy plans to establish field hospital (ERU/Emergency Response Unit) in Banda Aceh and Meulaboh. Within this week, the Basic Healthcare ERU from Japan will arrive in Meulaboh. The International Federation has deployed FACT (Field Assessment and Coordination Team) to carry out comprehensive assessment in Aceh Jaya and Aceh Barat district as well as in Simeleu islands by helicopter.
To support PMI program in Aceh and North Sumatra, PMI has mobilized at least 508 volunteers coming from various PMI Chapters, cooperating with 50 ICRC staff including 10 expatriates spread out in Banda Aceh, Meulaboh and Lhokseumawe.
For those who would like to donate, or seek information on the latest condition on location, volunteering, tracing lost family members, and relief distribution carried out so far by PMI, please contact PMI hotline at +62-21-7992325 ext. 402, +62-21-7944588, +62-21-7944559, fax +62-21-794-4633 or e-mail poskopmi@palangmerah.org.
Contact:
Mrs. Aswi Nugroho of PMI Public Relations, c.o., +62-811-918034, for
Indonesian Red Cross