PACIFIC DISASTER MANAGEMENT INFORMATION NETWORK (PDMIN)
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Indian Ocean Earthquake & Tsunami Emergency Update

 

February 8, 2005

 

Note: New content has been inserted in red, italicized, bold font.

 

 

Table of Contents:

 

Overview......................................page 2-6

Indonesia.....................................page 7-20

Sri Lanka......................................page 21-27

Thailand.......................................page 28-35

Overview

 

·      Search and rescue operations for the December 26 tsunami are largely over. The overall focus of attention is relief, recovery, and rehabilitation. The death toll from tsunamis triggered by an undersea earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale off the west coast of Indonesia’s northern Sumatra Island, is now 295,000 people along the coastal areas of 11 countries in the Indian Ocean.

·      Tsunami-related deaths were recorded in Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Maldives, Bangladesh, Somalia, Tanzania and Kenya. The loss of life is particularly severe in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. The toll for the dead and missing in Indonesia climbed to more than 240,000, with tens of thousands still unaccounted for. The death toll in Sri Lanka climbed to 30,000 and is expected to go higher. In India, at least 10,672 died in Tamil Nadu State and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The death toll on Thailand’s west coast climbed to 5,400, including some 1,765 foreigners from at least 36 countries. More than 400 combined deaths have been reported in the other countries.

 

·      Preliminary costs are: Indonesia – US$4.5 billion, Sri Lanka - US$3.5 billion, India - US$2 billion, Thailand - US$235 million and Maldives - US$1.3 billion. The world’s largest reinsurer, Munich Re, estimates the total cost of the disaster will exceed US$13.6 billion. In the four worst-affected countries, namely Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and Thailand, the economic impact is expected to be manageable. The GDP growth for India is expected to be unaffected. The 2005 projected GDP growth rate now stands at 5.4% for Indonesia; 4.2% for Sri Lanka; and 4.3% for Thailand. According to a joint assessment carried out by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and the World Bank (WB), reconstruction cost for areas affected by the tsunami disaster on December 26 is likely to exceed well over the preliminary estimates of US$7 billion. World Bank estimates cost of damage to Indonesia at more than US$5 billion, Sri Lanka around US$1 billion or some 4.4 percent of the country’s GDP and as much as US$510 million for the Maldives, accounting for some 50-80 percent of its GDP. (Feb-3, AFP, Reuters, WB)

 

·      Coordination: The United States and a number of other militaries and agencies are operating out of and coordinating at Thailand’s Utapao Royal Thai Air Force Base, about 100 miles (161 km) south of Bangkok. The US Combined Support Force 536 (CSF 536), Combined Coordination Center (CCC), which is comprised of liaison officers from Australia, UK, Japan, Thailand and Singapore, and a Civil-Military Coordination Cell, are operating. USAID DART representatives are present, as is the UNOCHA coordinator in Thailand. 1,600 US troops are on the ground. Additionally, the US and others are using the base for transshipment of relief supplies. CSF 536 may stand down by mid-February. (Jan-28, Anonymous)

 

o      Combined Support Force (CSF 536) subordinate for Thailand, Combined Support Group-Thailand (CSG-T), was stood down on January 22. The Sri Lanka subordinate, CSG-Sri Lanka (CSG-SL), will be phased out in February. CSG-Indonesia (CSG-I) is scheduled to disband on February 10 (Thursday). (Feb-7, CSF536)

 

·       Logistics: The overall flow of humanitarian relief is smooth. In Sri Lanka, transport capacity to move relief supplies is good and improving, as are distribution mechanisms. The need for helicopters diminished as more areas became accessible by road. In Indonesia the distribution of aid continues uninterrupted with some delays on particular routes and bottlenecks at some air and sea ports. Tracking and prioritization systems for humanitarian cargo and military airlift are being refined. Indonesian military (TNI) control of Banda Aceh and Medan airports and control of humanitarian and military access have been challenges. UNJLC has teams in Banda Aceh, Medan, Jakarta, and Colombo as well as liaison officers to work with the US military. Roads are open to Meulaboh on the west coast of Aceh, but the road south from Banda Aceh to Meulaboh remains impassable, although TNI has begun repairs on various sections. In Sri Lanka, road transportation (trucks) appears to be in short supply in Trincomalee. However, sufficient trucking capacity is available in Galle, due to its close proximity to the capital Colombo. (Feb-4, UNJLC)

 

o      UN is transitioning its air logistics needs from almost total reliance on military aircraft to almost total self-reliance on chartered aircraft, under direct tasking of the UNHAS. Military aircraft are gradually being phased out, subject to operational requirements under UNHAS civilian operations. UNJLC is also working with GoI for greater IO/UN vehicular access to remote areas affected by the tsunami disaster. UNJLC has a detailed list of civilian/commercial transportation assets available on its website www.unjlc.org (Feb-3, UNJLC)

 

o      The UNJLC is using Malaysia’s Subang Airport as its regional Humanitarian Air Hub (SHAH). Cargo is airlifted to either Banda Aceh or Medan, or transported for dispatch by ship. UNJLC recommends all international relief flights land in Subang, and then further dispatch the cargo by smaller aircraft. UNJLC encourages other agencies and humanitarian organizations to use the two IL76 and three Hercules aircraft on the Subang-Medan and Subang-Banda Aceh routes. (Jan-21, UNJLC) UNJLC will decide in mid-February whether the hub should be kept longer.

 

o      UNJLC has asked the TNI if foreign military sea assets could be used as a regular delivery mechanism along the west coast of Aceh. TNI has already approved the use of these assets for the delivery of a road repair plant. (Feb-4, UNJLC)

 

o      Requirements for US military helicopters in Indonesia have decreased in part due to better screening and prioritization of needs by UN and also by replacement by UNHAS-operated helicopters. (Feb-2, OCHA)

 

o      UNHAS does not anticipate an increase in helicopter capacity. It plans to reduce air assets in the absence of additional requests over the next 2-3 weeks. More goods are now being transported via roads and sea. (Feb-4, UNJLC)

 

o      Significant decrease in the movement of humanitarian relief supplies has been observed by UNJLC, IOM and UNHAS. NGOs that have reported that their warehouses in Indonesia’s Medan and Banda Aceh were overloaded, are encouraged to contact UNJLC and IOM to reduce warehouse bottlenecks. (Feb-4, UNJLC)

 

·      Food: Jan Egeland, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, estimates 2 million people are in need of food aid. WFP is currently assisting 1,100,000 people. For February, WFP estimates it will feed 850,000 in Sri Lanka—up from 750,000 in January and 500,000 to 800,000 in Indonesia—up from 340,000. In Indonesia, UNJLC plans to be able to move food and other items for 750,000. UN’s World Food Program (WFP) has already delivered some 10,000 metric tons of food. WFP has received US$81.9 million or one-third of its US$256 million emergency appeal. FAO says overall food availability in the region is adequate to cover needs. The agency is working to rehabilitate fisheries and agriculture.

 

o      WFP says 200,000 people in Indonesia not receiving adequate food. WFP is shipping food via sea to Simuelue Island and Aceh’s west coast. (Jan-24, OCHA)

 

o      Japan’s Agriculture Minister says US$20 million of US$60 million donation for WFP will provide 20,000 tons of rice for affected countries. (Jan-28, DPA)

 

·      Health/Medical: World Health Organization (WHO) officials estimate up to five million people displaced and at risk, with 750,000 estimated as displaced in Indonesia. WHO estimates 500,000 people were injured. There are scattered reports of diarrhea, malaria, dengue, measles, pneumonia and skin infections, but no disease outbreaks. WHO priorities are prevention of diarrhoeal diseases, particularly cholera and typhoid. WHO seeks US$76 million for the next six months to combat mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue fever, which are endemic across South Asian countries, except the Maldives. (Jan-27, UNNC)

 

o      WHO reports no disease outbreaks in the region. Jan Egeland, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs warns there is no room for complacency. WHO says malnutrition is emerging as a concern in Indonesia. Government of Indonesia (GoI) is leading a Nutrition Surveillance Task Force in cooperation with international NGO partners and UN agencies. The task force will be established in Banda Aceh next week and training of enumerators is expected to start by mid-February. Ministry of Health and provincial health department in Aceh are GoI’s lead agencies to oversee the task force (Feb-4, OCHA)

 

o      International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) says sanitation continues to be growing concern in Indonesia and Sri Lanka with latrine construction hampered by high ground water levels. (Feb-1, IFRC)

 

·      Security: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says his government would accept a Finnish invitation for a second round of peace talks with Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels aimed at ending nearly a three-decades long separatist conflict in Aceh. The first round of talks, mediated by former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, ended last week in the Finnish capital Helsinki without a clear resolution. The second round of peace talks is expected to take place by the end of February, although no date has been set. Meanwhile, at least 12 suspected GAM rebels were killed in clashes with the Indonesian military (TNI) over the past 48 hours. Despite a unilateral ceasefire announced by the GAM rebels in the immediate aftermath of the tsunami disaster on December 26, TNI has killed more than 200 rebels in the area. (Feb-5, AFP)

 

o      UN is considering relocating its relief headquarters in Indonesia’s tsunami-stricken Aceh province due to security reasons. Joel Boutroue, UN deputy humanitarian coordinator stressed that decision was not based on any direct threats against UN interests, but was an effort to relocate the staff to a new compound that was structurally more secure. (Feb-8, AP) UN activities outside the UN compound in Banda Aceh are under curfew from midnight to 6 AM. WFP security assessments in Meulaboh and Calang and on roads from Banda Aceh-Medan and Singkil-Meulaboh find the situation acceptable. TNI requirements for military escorts for humanitarian aid missions beyond Medan remain in place. The Posko (Coordination Center of the GoI) in Medan continues to discourage foreign aid workers from traveling on some routes. (Jan-31, UNJLC)

 

o      A medivac procedure for UN and NGO staff is implemented; a charter medivac plane is in Banda Aceh for evacuation to Singapore. (Jan-26, UNJLC)

 

·      Political-Military: Joel Boutroue, head of United Nations relief efforts in Aceh, calls for Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) to hand over post-tsunami humanitarian relief operations to civilian authorities at the earliest opportunity, now that the emergency phase is past. Boutroue endorses peace talks between the government and separatist GAM rebels to stabilize the situation. (Jan-24, DPA)

 

o      UN head of tsunami coordination, Margareta Walhstrom, says the need for foreign militaries is diminishing rapidly as the UN and other aid organizations organize their own transportation. Admiral Thomas Fargo, the commander of the US Pacific Command, says the US military is transferring functions to the appropriate host nations and international organizations. The UN Joint Logistics Center is implementing a transportation transition plan emphasizing shipping and trucking. The plan is approved by the Indonesian government and coordinated with foreign militaries. Some humanitarians and victims express concern that militaries will depart too soon.

 

o      Rear Admiral William Douglas Crowder, the commander of the USS Abraham Lincoln’s battle group, says the US is likely to wrap up its tsunami relief efforts in Indonesia this month. The US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, with 5,300 personnel on board, has already left Indonesian waters and is heading back home. Crowder said some 4000-5,000 US military personnel remain deployed, mostly offshore, as part of the multinational relief efforts. He said he expected these personnel to end their mission in next couple of weeks. (Feb-6, AP)

 

o      Foreign military aid operations are winding down and most foreign militaries are scheduled to depart Sri Lanka by early to mid-February. Australia will begin withdrawing its troops from tsunami-affected areas in Indonesia next week. US military is ending its tsunami relief efforts in Sri Lanka and Maldives, and moving its support into civilian-driven reconstruction programs with virtually all US military presence gone by March. Some 950 troops from Japan’s Self Defense Forces (SDF) will reportedly end their major relief operation in tsunami-affected Indonesia by the end of next month (March). (Feb-8, AFP, Xinhua)

 

·      International Assistance: UN OCHA estimates over US$5.3 billion pledged as grant aid for tsunami-affected nations. The multinational development banks, namely World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), are also providing US$412 million, US$675 million and US$500 million respectively.

 

o      ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda says the bank will host a high-level meeting on March 18 at its headquarters in Manila (Philippines) aimed at coordinating assistance to tsunami-affected countries. Kuroda, who assumed his position earlier this month (February 1) said, “Coordination among the many governments and bilateral and multilateral donors involved in the rebuilding process will be a crucial component of success.” He said the ADB had US$600 million in readily available funding and another US$175 million in reprogrammed funding for tsunami efforts in Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka and India. (Feb-8, ADB, JP)

 

o      The World Bank is providing US$660 million to Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Maldives under the first phase of support for the reconstruction of tsunami-affected areas. Although WBs plan would focus primarily on Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Maldives, it would also provide small scale non-operational grant funding through its international partners to Seychelles and Somalia that have also experienced some losses. (Feb-3, AFP, Reuters)

 

o      UN head of tsunami coordination, Margareta Walhstrom, says donor countries were failing to provide sufficient funds for temporary housing and job creation for hundreds of thousands of people affected by last year’s (December 26) tsunami in the Indian Ocean. She says donor pledges in response to a UN flash appeal of US$977 million cover less than half the money needed for temporary housing and job creation. Walhstrom said the UN had so far received only US$360 million of the US$977 million that were pledged. She is urging donors to quickly turn their aid pledges into cash. (Feb-7, Reuters)

 

·      International Development & Relief Organizations: International development and relief organization Oxfam, like MSF, IFRC, and UNICEF, received all the funding it needs for tsunami relief and ended fund drive. (Jan-28, Oxfam)

 

 

 

 

Indonesia

 

Organization

 

Overview …………………………………………………………page 8

 

Sectors……………………………………………………………page 10

 

Domestic Response……………………………………………page 15

            Government                                                             

            Local Humanitarian Organizations

 

International Response……………………………………….page 16

            Foreign Governments

            United Nations

            International Humanitarian Organizations

Overview: The UN said today that with the focus turning towards the rebuilding of Aceh province, aid groups plan to keep a lower profile so that survivors will not become dependent on them. “The key is to put the provincial authorities, the district authorities and the Acehnese as a whole in the driving seat. The peak of the emergency operation is behind us. The difficult part starts now,” Boutroue said. Boutroue says that the UN and aid agencies are in the process of holding talks with the GoI on the next phase of rebuilding Aceh. This involves the early return of displaced people, assisting families that took in survivors, and “jump-starting” the economy, he said. (Feb-8, Reuters)

 

Meanwhile, Boutroe also said that the UN would most likely relocate its headquarters in Banda Aceh for security reasons. He says that the UN “does not expect to be a target” of an attack, but said that there were “structural weaknesses” in the current compound’s walls and fences.

 

The UN’s World Food Program says that almost 500,000 people have received a one-month supply of food in Aceh. WFP is planning to have a second one-month supply of food distributed by the end of February. WFP says that it is increasing its logistical capacity, with some 7-10 helicopters and delivery by sea. A landing craft off of Meulaboh on the west coast began ferrying supplies from the 3,000-ton WFP chartered vessel, the M/V Kimtrans.

 

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, David Ritchie was quoted by Elshinta radio today as saying that the Australian government would gradually begin to withdraw its 1,046 troops from Aceh next week. Ritchie reportedly made the statement after meeting with Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla. (Feb-8, Xinhua) Meanwhile, Kyodo News and Jiji Press reported that the 950 Japanese troops in the province would be withdrawn in late March. However, the Japanese Defense Agency could not immediately confirm the reports. (Feb-8, AFP)

 

The National Disaster Relief Coordinating Board says that 1,055 more bodies were found, raising the confirmed death toll to 115,756. The number of missing has remained at 127,774. The Associated Press reports that most are feared dead, but cannot be legally declared so for a year.

 

The GoI says that by the end of February, 401 barracks to house the homeless would be ready, with enough room for some 50,000 people. The GoI had planned to build some 754 barracks in 39 locations. (Feb-8, Reuters) There are a total of some 425,000 IDPs. GoI says building of barracks in Aceh Timur was completed and assures that IDPs will not be forced into the barracks. IDP registration has started and expected to be completed by February 10. (Feb-4, UNHCR) A second group of 40,000 will move into prefabricated homes, and 320,000 will be relocated into military platoon tents. Officials began a census on February 1, and relocations were planned to begin February 15. Indonesian officials expect about a third of the IDPs to move into temporary housing, while the rest will likely stay with relatives. An estimated 260,000 IDPs are already staying with extended families. Human Rights Watch and Human Rights First has expressed concerns that some Acehnese might be forcibly relocated or prevented from returning home. The groups also expressed concerns over the involvement of the military (TNI) in the relocation. (Feb-8, Reuters)

 

GOI put tsunami/earthquake losses at US$4.5 billion. The Consultative Group on Indonesia, made up of 30 international lenders, pledged US$1.7 billion in tsunami aid for 2005, consisting of US$1.2 billion in grants and US$500 million in soft loans. The aid is in addition to US$3.4 billion donors pledged that will mostly go towards reducing the national deficit. During the international ministerial tsunami meeting in Geneva on January 11, several countries pledged US$900 million for a six-month period to Indonesia.

 

Banda Aceh vicinity: Malaysian town planners, engineers, architects and surveyors arrived in Banda Aceh over the weekend to help with master plan for rebuilding Banda Aceh. Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak says that a concept for rebuilding could be ready in a month and a master plan in three months. (Feb-8, AFP) Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan toured Aceh province and pledged Turkey’s help in rebuilding schools, orphanages and hospitals. Yesterday (Sunday, February 6), Dutch Foreign Minister Bernard Bot toured Aceh to assess relief needs. (Feb-7, AP) The UN Development Program (UNDP) said it would employ up to 30,000 survivors for cleanup efforts across Aceh province. UNDP will start with a pilot program, involving some 100 people in Banda Aceh, before expanding. (Feb-4, AP) Government is aiming to remove all bodies and complete the clean up of the provincial capital by the end of February. The World Health Organization (WHO) says Aceh’s health care system was relatively good before the disaster, with an extensive network of local health clinics. WHO says it will take months or years to rebuild. (Jan-30, AP) UNICEF is using a planning figure 2.5 percent of IDPs for children who have lost parents. UNOCHA expects the vast majority to be accommodated by their extended families. (Jan-30, UNOCHA) More than 130 schools reopened in late January throughout Aceh province. UNICEF draft report finds 1 in 8 children or some 12.7 percent are malnourished. Aid groups are shifting from emergency rations to more varied items that include more protein and vitamins. (Jan-30, AP) WFP says most people around Banda Aceh provisioned with one-month of rations. Some semblance of normalcy is returning to the city. Fifty percent of electrical power in Banda Aceh and 30 percent in Meulaboh has been restored. (Feb-1, UNOCHA) The National Coordination Board for Natural Disaster Management (BAKORNAS) reports the rehabilitation of the telephone system in Banda Aceh. Around 380 government officials were imported from Jakarta to get local government affairs restarted. Hundreds of police and thousands of TNI have been brought in.

 

West Coast of Aceh Province/Western Islands: UNHCR says that it is focusing on getting emergency shelter and supplies to isolated villages, as well as helping to lay the groundwork for rebuilding. Last week, the agency began transferring relief supplies to the village of Keude Panga, 20km (12.4 miles) south of Calang. Some 2,000 IDPs need assistance there. In the village of Kreung Sabe, located some 8 km (5 miles) from Calang, the UNHCR, GoI and other agencies are working on a recovery and rebuilding program. About half of the population was swept away and some 4,000 are displaced. (Feb-4, UNHCR). The west coast of Aceh had a population of about one million in its six regencies, with about 500,000 in the heavily damaged northern three and 500,000 in the southern three. A January UN, GOI and US military report says that the “west coast of Aceh continues to receive aid and assistance in a chaotic manner. The report says the tsunami destroyed virtually every village, town and roads and bridges along a 170-kilometer (105-mile) stretch of coast that was not more than 10 meters (33 feet) above sea level. The report cites the complete lack of sanitation along the coast as the main risk facing some 125,000 IDPs. Increasing numbers of IDPs are gathering in the major towns of Meulaboh and Calang, which increased the chances of a disease outbreak. An assessment of the western islands off the coast of Sumatra found considerable damage to housing and livelihoods. Simeulue Island, off the west coast and closest to the epicenter, has about 18,000 IDPs.

 

 

Domestic Response

 

Local Government

 

·       The TNI says that it will deploy some 6,000 troops in Aceh to open up transportation routes and distribute assistance to isolated areas under the program, “TNI Building Villages.” (Feb-4, Tempointeractive) Total of TNI troops is around 50,000; 38,000 troops were already in Aceh for military operations against the GAM. TNI said 517 soldiers were killed in the tsunami.

 

·       GOI intends to create 50,000 jobs with manpower-intensive projects in 100 locations. (Feb-02, Terrawire)

 

·       As of January 22, 54 out of 241 subdistrict administrations and 647 out of 5,958 village administrations were not functioning. (Jan-23, Jakarta Post)

 

• Information Minister Sofyan Djalil says the GOI will set up a “credible” oversight scheme for international aid. (Jan-17, Reuters) American accounting firm of Ernst &Young to audit foreign aid. (Jan-14, IHT) Welfare Minister Shihab says the government would make official monthly announcements of the amount of aid received and spent. (Jan-23, Jakarta Post)

 

·       Indonesian police deployed around 800 officers to Aceh Province to fill the posts of 450 killed in the disaster.

 

Local Organizations

 

• The Aceh Referendum Information Center (SIRA) criticized Finnish mediator Martti Ahtisaari for allegedly supporting the GoI and its proposal to end the Free Aceh Movement’s (GAM) independence movement. (Feb-4, AP)

 

• Aceh Working Group, a coalition of local NGOs, expressed concerns over the monopoly of the TNI over aid distribution. (Feb-1, Aceh Kita)

 

• Indonesia Corruption Watch has sent a team of 10 observers to Aceh.

 

• The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) sent over 800 trained volunteers to Aceh. PMI has disaster response team in Meulaboh. PMI is sending two five-ton trucks with relief items to Meulaboh. (Jan-29, Reuters)

• Indonesian Midwives Association says 30 percent of its 1,650 members in Aceh died in the disaster. (Jan-21, AP) UNOCHA reports that the Ministry of Health has sent some 300 midwives to Banda Aceh to provide support. (Feb-1, UNOCHA)

 

• Walhi has approximately 200 volunteers in Aceh providing emergency medical supplies, sanitation, food and water. (Jan-27, EWC)

 

International Response

 

Foreign Governments

 

·       Afghanistan’s medical team began work in Banda Aceh on January 24.

 

·       Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the Australian military with 900 troops are assisting. The military is providing helicopters and transportation aircraft, a field hospital, and water purification. Australia is operating out of its old Butterworth airfield near Penang Island in Malaysia.

 

·       Brunei sends team of doctors, nurse, health personnel and volunteers to Banda Aceh.

 

·       China sent two rescue teams and 3 medical teams to Indonesia. (Feb-7, AP)

 

·       Egypt is sending medical team and humanitarian aid to Aceh. (Jan-10, Jakarta Post)

 

• European Commission (EC) contributions from Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Norway, and Portugal.

 

• France’s Defense Ministry says the helicopter carrier Jeanne d’Arc will end its relief operations in mid-February and will be replaced by the La Marne, a command and supply ship. (Jan-27, AFP) France also sent the frigate George Leygues to provide medical aid. (Jan 2, AFP) French construction company Lafarge SA, the world’s largest cement supplier, says it plans to invest “tens of millions of dollars” to rebuild a cement factory in Aceh. (Jan-31, AP)

 

·       German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer will tour relief operations in Banda Aceh. (Feb-3, AFP) German supply/hospital ship Berlin, which also has a field hospital, is offshore.

 

·       Iran gave US$1.5 million dollars and will send some 5,000 tons of dates to Aceh. (Jan-26, AFP)

 

·       A Japanese destroyer, amphibious ship, and a supply vessel with some 970 Self Defense Force (SDF) members are anchored off the coast for the relief effort. (Jan-26, AP) Ad Hoc Japanese Embassy started operations in Banda Aceh. (Jan-27, GOJ)

 

·       Malaysia, with perhaps 800,000 illegal workers, many from Indonesia, relented on a strict expulsion plan due to begin February 1. Malaysia has set up relief centers and a 50-bed hospital, has started to withdraw its personnel and equipment. (Jan-25, Jakarta Post) The UN is using Subang airport, located outside Kuala Lumpur, while Australia is using Butterworth in the northern part of peninsula Malaysia.

 

·       New Zealand has 3 Defense Force medical teams in Banda Aceh, 1 C-130 Hercules cargo plane and crew.

 

·       Netherlands has offered prefabricated bridges to temporarily fill gaps in highways. (Feb-7, AP)

 

·       Pakistan sent 87 army engineers and paramedics. Personnel are setting up a field hospital.

 

·       Philippines sending medical team to Indonesia. (Jan-13, AFP)