Foreign aid flows in for Indonesia quake victims

BANTUL – International relief efforts picked up yesterday for survivors of the earthquake that killed more than 5 000 people on Indonesia’s Java island, but many victims complained that vital aid was not reaching them.

Planes carrying supplies and foreign experts, including Japanese paramedics and a small contingent of US Marines, reached the stricken region to supplement government aid and workers. The paramedics and Marines landed at the airport at the ancient royal capital of Yogyakarta, the main city in the affected area, which re-opened to commercial traffic despite a heavily damaged terminal.UN officials say more than 22 countries have responded to Indonesia’s call for help with aid or pledges of assistance, and more countries announced contributions in cash, goods or personnel throughout the day.But help was still a long way off for some.In the hard-hit rural area on the way to Bantul town, Jumadi and his two barefoot teenage boys begged motorists for money.”Our village has many victims, houses are all destroyed and we have not received aid from the government.This is (all) we can do.What else can we do?” he said.The quake’s official death toll had reached 5 428 as of yesterday afternoon, according to the government’s Social Affairs Department, and it had left more than 130 000 homeless by one estimate, many without shelter and short of food.Speaking in a makeshift tent by a road outside Yogyakarta, Siwo Sudarmo said: “I’m very sad …we haven’t received any assistance.We have to make our own tents and I also learned that if you want to get a tent you have to fill out a form.”Every day trucks with signs ‘aid for quake’ pass by but we can’t stop them,” he said, adding he was relying on donations from passers-by for money for clean water and instant noodles.- Nampa-ReutersThe paramedics and Marines landed at the airport at the ancient royal capital of Yogyakarta, the main city in the affected area, which re-opened to commercial traffic despite a heavily damaged terminal.UN officials say more than 22 countries have responded to Indonesia’s call for help with aid or pledges of assistance, and more countries announced contributions in cash, goods or personnel throughout the day.But help was still a long way off for some.In the hard-hit rural area on the way to Bantul town, Jumadi and his two barefoot teenage boys begged motorists for money.”Our village has many victims, houses are all destroyed and we have not received aid from the government.This is (all) we can do.What else can we do?” he said.The quake’s official death toll had reached 5 428 as of yesterday afternoon, according to the government’s Social Affairs Department, and it had left more than 130 000 homeless by one estimate, many without shelter and short of food.Speaking in a makeshift tent by a road outside Yogyakarta, Siwo Sudarmo said: “I’m very sad …we haven’t received any assistance.We have to make our own tents and I also learned that if you want to get a tent you have to fill out a form.”Every day trucks with signs ‘aid for quake’ pass by but we can’t stop them,” he said, adding he was relying on donations from passers-by for money for clean water and instant noodles.- Nampa-Reuters