Updates From Jerald for 11 Jan and 12 Jan

These SMSs came in from Jerald this morning. He will be returning to KL on 14 Jan.

12 Jan 2005 09:31:43 (GMT +7)We went out to west but bridge collapse n no more access.we dont know how bad is it there.we went to a beach in loksmawhe.the serenety n beauty belies its ferocious strength just a few days ago.it is strange to see mass graves dug waiting for bodies to pile up.in refugee camps people still live in fear.the regular termors only add to their new desperate environment.tuesday

12 Jan 2005 09:47:56 (GMT +7) We are leaving for airport now...with a heavy heart.i leave friends n people who have lost so much.their pain is beyond us.body bags r still living the streets.the work to rebuild is long n hard.we leave hoping our support n tghe global support will come quick n enable the acehnese to once again go back to their homes....wednesday

Yesterday evening KOMAS office in PJ was a flurry of activity - preparing paperwork and purchasing medical supplies for transport to Medan. Our fellow NGO friend, Zaitun Kassim from Suaram will be bringing it to Medan for us together with her drum of chlorine pills, as she leaves for Aceh on a independent fact-finding mission. She left for the airport this afternoon. We pray for your safety, and hope you'll have a successful mission!

We also got a mysterious package in the mail yesterday. The envelope bore no return address nor name of the sender. Curious, we poured the contents out and found two fabric masks and some tabs of painkillers. Thanks, dear anonymous! although your contribution is comparatively smaller than that of the larger pharmaceutical companies, the envelope and its contents is seeing it's way to people who will appreciate it greatly!

Other news - The flight of our returning exploratory mission team was delayed. They'll be expected to reach Kuala Lumpur International Airport this evening at 18:30 (GMT +8). The staff at KOMAS will be leaving shortly to meet them at the airport.