Tsunami Relief
Week 6 - Aid to Fishermen & More Shipments |
| Posted by Administrator (admin) on May 07 2006 |
Saturday, 5th February 2005
The loading of Mitra Utama resumed in the morning. By noon it was complete. Jalil, our volunteer who would accompany the aid all the way to Banda Aceh was visibly excited yet anxious about his mission. He boarded the vessel and at 12.45pm, the Mitra Utama set sail to Belawan Port. The journey to Belawan would take approximately 20 hours.
more loading... Jalil waiting to board.
Jalil boarding the vessel... Mitra Utama on its way...
Friday, 4th February 2005
Someone once said that the only thing constant about change is change itself. Well, whoever he was, he must have been pretty smart for that’s exactly what has been happening at POHD. First we had a vessel and then we did not. Then we had vessel but the crew won’t go. Today we have two! One will sail on Saturday and the other on Monday.
Sinar Suria S/B, a freight forwarding company, managed to secure the two vessels for us – the Cipta Karya (200 tonnes) and Mitra Utama (400 tonnes). Mr. Maniam, a partner in the firm, did all he can to secure the vessel for us at a very reasonable cost.
Mr. Maniam and Fr. Fabian
However, these vessels will not sail to Lhoksuemawe Port in Aceh but to Belawan Port in Medan. Our initial concern about Port Belawan was resolved when we got word from Nana in Aceh that she is able to finance the in-land transport from Medan to Banda Aceh. Apparently, an international funding agency (OXFAM) had agreed to fund the extremely expensive 10 hour lorry ride.
Loading of the Mitra Utama vessel at the Penang Swettenham Port begun at 7pm. Fr. Fabian and Vincent coordinated work at the warehouse. 48 pallets of clothes, 58 pallets of bottled water and 1 pallet of food were earmarked for loading. These items included some from the Indonesian Consulate. Unfortunately, it was already 10pm and loading could not be completed. More loading tomorrow!
Loading the Mitra Utama
Thursday, 3rd February 2005
Location: Penang
Its amazing how circumstances can change overnight! Just yesterday we were certain the Cipta Karya would sail to Lhoksuemawe, Aceh with more aid. Even the paperwork was complete. At approximately 10.30pm last night, Fr. Fabian got a call from the shipper that it won’t sail. He was told that 7 of the 12 crew vessel crew had decided to boycott the trip fearing for their safety in the pirate invested waters.
Today, Fr. Fabian, Vincent and Joachim shuttled between the Indonesian Consulate and the shippers’ office in an attempt to make alternative arrangements. It was determined that the fears of the crew were indeed real and that it would not be fair and appropriate to make them risk their lives. After a flurry of meetings and endless phone calls, the alternative plan would be for the vessel to sail to Belawan Port in Medan on Monday and then have the shipment trucked via road to Banda Aceh where the receiving NGO, Forum LSM Aceh would receive the aid. However, the cost is a deterring factor. At a cost of RM3000(US789)/truck, it would amount to a whopping RM48,000(US12,631) for an estimated 16 trucks (10 tonnes each)! Trucking by road (10 hours) can be pretty risky too. But with the right paperwork from the Indonesian Consulate in Penang, we hope to secure some security for the trucks.
Map of Aceh
The Royal Australian Air Force airlift arrangement is on going. The RAAF however are not keen on transporting bottled water of which we have close to 80 tonnes. We had arranged the vessel to transport most of the bottled water.
For now, we will first ensure the vessel sails on Monday. POHD will continue to negotiate with various parties to ensure the aid is received in Banda Aceh with minimal cost and risk. More updates on this later…
Location: Aceh
Word from Nana (Forum LSM Aceh):
Nana
Meanwhile, 10,000 plastics cups and plates were packed into boxes at the Penang Diocesan Centre ready for the next shipment. Plastic cups and plates were selected over paper ones to minimize wastage and eliminate the need to re-supply.
Lisa...clowning around instead of packing!
Wednesday, 2nd February 2005
Location: Penang
We experienced the real meaning of bureaucracy this morning when POHD attempted to move its aid out of Warehouse 9 of Swettenham Port, Penang today so that it could be sent to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in Butterworth for airlifting to Aceh. Joachim had to run back and forth to four different offices with the same authorisation letter before he were given clearance to move the goods out.
Two lorries were loaded in one hour using two forklifts. It was airlifted at 11.00am. At 12.30pm the plane touched down in Banda Aceh. Representatives from Forum LSM Aceh were waiting at the airport to receive the aid. At 4.00pm we received a call from Pujo that they had received the aid. That was really good news!
Aid palleted, film wrapped, strapped & labeled
Apart from the usual stuff of water and dry food, some of the special items that were delivered included:
- Portable stoves (double burners) and kitchen utensils – for the mobile kitchen which will be set up at the relief centres in Aceh to prepare hot meals.
- Preserved food - volunteers cooked sambal, salt fish, anchovies and tempeh for Acehnese. Tonite, they will get a high-protein “feast” after many weeks of constant instant noodle diet.
- Personal items for men and women - soap, toothpaste, razor blades, towel, cotton buds, undergarments and sanitary pads.
Meanwhile arrangements are almost complete for our vessel, the Cipta Karya to sail on Friday. Jalil Shaikhu, an ardent volunteer at the Lighthouse Drop-In Centre (a free-meals centre in Penang) agreed to go on board the vessel to ensure it reaches the hands of the people whom POHD is working with in Aceh. Today, he received his passport from the Immigration Department and visited the Indonesian Consulate to complete the paperwork. He is excited about the trip and knows the risk that is involved when venturing into pirate invested waters. He is nevertheless aware of the great need of the Acehnese people to receive the aid as soon as possible.
Jalil...ready to go.
All in all a fruitful day.
Tuesday, 1st February 2005
Location: Penang
Today, Chaplain Mark Willis and Corporal Tony from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) visited our office to discuss logistics. It was a good and quick meeting and before we could say “halleluyah!” RAAF trucks turned up at the Penang Diocesan Centre allowing us to immediately load the aid on it.
RAAF will transport 97 pallets (about 50 tonnes) of aid made up mostly of rice, water, sugar, dry food, mobile kitchen stuff and basic item for men and women i.e. soap, razor blades, towel, cotton buds and undergarments).
2 tonnes of sugar
Joachim will make arrangement for lorries to pick up aid from the warehouse in Swettenham Port tomorrow and have it delivered to the TUDM airport.
Meanwhile, Allan is getting on real fine. After losing his home and his job as a assistant fisherman, he has been offered two jobs. POHD gave him some cash to tide over the next few days. He seemed happy.
Allan and Fr. Fabian
Location: Aceh
Word from Nana (Forum LSM Aceh):
Nana
Dear All
"I am so happy we can collaborate with this aid. i do appreciate of your efforts to help my people. Distributing of aid have achieved to more or less 25,000 people at IDP's (Internally Displaced People) camps..and this number will increase..day after day. Below are some pictures of distribution in Aceh".
"And now a days i have broadcasting program to promote woman and children protection post-tsunami, as u know they are vulnerable people in crisis situation. we need to do something for them for example when the government set up for their relocation so we can influence of government policy". - NANA -
unloading aid in Aceh
Monday, 31st January 2005
Location: Penang
Good news! We have secured a vessel. Sinar Suria S/B, a forwarding agency has come forward to arrange twice weekly trips to Kruengbuekueh Port in Lhoksuemawe. This is really good news after the TLDM vessel did not turn up causing us a two weeks delay. Joachim visited the Indonesian Consulate in Penang to secure clearance fore the vessel.
The vessel - "Cipta Karya" (200 tonnes)
Vincent and Razak continued the excruciating work of hunting down all the fishermen who have applied for POHD aid and verifying that their boats/engines were indeed damaged.
Initial assesment shows that on average it would cost aprox. RM7,500 (US1,973) per fisherman to replace his boat, 30hp engine and fishing nets. Till date we have application for 10 boats, 16 engines and lots of nets. It is estimated all this would cost approx. RM106,000 (US27,894).
Suzuki Engines - 30hp, 2 stroke.
Meanwhile, Anne is rushing all over town to get hold of every plastic plates and cups she can get hold of. We are ordering 10,000 pieces of each at a cost of RM0.41(US0.11)/plate and RM0.35(US0.09)/cup. These item will be sent to the relief centres in Aceh.
Location: Aceh
Nurhasdiana (a.k.a Nana) the NGO rep. in Aceh is now able to communicate via email. Thats a blessing because now we can receive updates as to what is hapening at the 25 relief centres that POHD is supporting. This is what she emailed:
Nana (Forum Lsm Aceh)
" We have more than hundreds volunteers to distribute all of the logistic. We have done some assesment for pregnant women's and babies need. As u know in crisis area we should give them special attention and care."
So, there you go...we going to need lots of the stuff that will keep mothers and their lovely but undernourished babies alive!
Sunday, 30th January 2005
Location: Penang
Vincent Lim was invited on board into POHD to help us with the Tsunami Relief Efforts. While Razak will do the ground work of getting information from fishermen who need aid, Vincent will do the sourcing of boats and engines. Vincent will also monitor government aid so that there is no overlapping. Welcome aboard Vincent!
Vincent Lim at work
Vincent & Razak met seven fishermen in the Tg. Bungah area today and spoke to them about their losses. Information was recorded and verified. They also visited a man who was selling a used fishing boat which POHD may purchase. Razak will get information from the Fishermen Association so that POHD can verify the the ownership of damaged boats.
Last changed: May 07 2006 at 11:57 PM
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