Donations From NSC, SMS Updates And News

Getting Donations Frm National Sports Council Of Malaysia
We got four boxes of medication from the National Sports Council of Malaysia yesterday at a brief handover ceremony at Bukit Jalil. Thanks for the generous donation!

SMS Update From Jo Hann
And this sms came in from Jo Hann in the morning.

I'm writing report now also edit foto. Will send b4 130pm kl time. Gang left 4 banda aceh morn. 11 am ETA. 10pm msia time.

A Visit To The UN Office
We got back from the UN office and tried calling our NGO friends in Aceh and Jakarta but all the landlines and mobile phone networks were busy. SMS seems to be the best way to communicate, it seems.

There's been worrying humanitarian news from the brief press conference and handover of a memorandum concerning aid distribution in Aceh. Among the issues raised in the letter AltAld Aceh-Tsunami forwarded to UN were that of

1. Aid being sold instead of being distributed, such as (I assume, Maggi Mee Perisa Ayam (I saw on the news)) instant noodles we sent for distribution. This was reported by Malaysiakini and Washington Post. There are also eyewitness accounts that indicate the military are requesting aid recipientsto show identification.

2. Interpress Service also reported that the military resumed operations in Aceh. According to the Malaysian NST, Indonesian military killed three Gerakan Aceh Merdeka members since the disaster hit.

In the letter, AltAid Aceh-Tsunami then urged the UN to

1. Ask the Indonesian gov to clarify transparently, the aid distribution system currently at work
2. Ask the Indonesian government to investigate claims of corruption and intimidation within it's armed forces station in Aceh
3. Urge for more civilian aid groups to assist in Aceh, rather than the Indonesian military
4. Send international, independant observers into Aceh to monitor the current situation.

The UN representative, whose name Anis Yusal Yusuf, the United Nations Assistant Resident Coordinator, promised to look into it.

I also got off the phone with Zaitun Kasim, the representative of AltAid Aceh-Tsunami who presented the letter. She'll be heading to Aceh in a couple of days to do some fact finding to investigate those reports. This is good news indeed.

More Medication Needed
One of our local NGO contacts from Posko, Medan, Sintesa - (Study for Social Interaction and Advocacy) , faxed over a list of medication they need us to help bring over on Saturday.

1. Paracetamol
2. Folic Acid
3. Vitamin C
4. Vitamin B Complex
5. Cloxacilin
6. Povidone/Flavin (Dressing)
7. Oral Rehydration Salts
8. Bandages
9. Plaster
10. Augmentin
11. Amoxsicylin

Although we've already received some aid from NSC, it simply won't be enough. Mien tells me that 4 boxes will probably last us only two hours.

We accept donations from anyone, be it in cash or in the form of medical supplies or as volunteers. Please read how you can help us.

Am expecting an update with photos from Jo Hann, so look out for an update later tonight. Any enquiries please forward them to graceshu@gmail.com, komas_aceh@yahoo.com