They found a village that nobody knew about

[SaadhRayn Kaur]

Aceh village cut off from aid

BY B.K. SIDHU

PETALING JAYA: A village – just outside Banda Aceh – where more than 3,200 people were killed by the Dec 26 tsunamis and earthquake, has not received any help at all in the past 20 days.

The flattened Paros village, just 15 nautical miles from Banda Aceh, was found by the Global Sikhs Aceh Relief team two days ago.

“It is so devastating to find out that just a short distance away from Bandar Aceh there are thousands of bodies lying around and survivors are so disoriented they do not know what has happened to their world.

“They had no means of communication until our team arrived. Our team had to walk 1km from the coastline before it found survivors. So far we have found only 2,800 of them and most are ill.

OFFLOADING:The relief team unloading aid for the tsunami victims in Sabang Friday.

“They are in dire need of medical aid, food and clean water,” Global Sikhs Aceh Relief director of operations Harvinder Singh told The Star in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The Global Sikhs Aceh Relief team found the Paros village as they sailed along the west coast of northern Sumatra.

While most of the relief efforts have been concentrated in Banda Aceh there was a vast coastline still unexplored with thousands of survivors in need of help, said Harvinder.

“Our team needs body bags, medical supplies, food and water for the survivors. There is an urgent need to dispose of the 3,200 bodies quickly to avoid an epidemic.

“We have asked the US army in Banda Aceh to help us in the relief work in Paros,” he said.

Global Sikhs Aceh Relief is spearheaded by the Malaysia

n Sikh Youth and its partners, the US-based United Sikhs, and a group of sailors from Langkawi who called themselves Waves of Mercy.

FAMILIAR SIGHT: The killer wave did not spare the port town of Sabang either.

Last Friday, three ships packed with RM5mil worth of foodstuff and medical supplies set sail for Aceh. A control centre has been set at the Malaysian Sikh Youth headquarters to co-ordinate relief efforts.

The team is now using the port town of Sabang on Pulau We as its base while its vessels sail along the coast looking for more such villages.

“We are the only relief team with ships and that is why we are scouting the west coast of Aceh to look for survivors.

“Now that we have found a new village, this will not stop us from going to more areas to find survivors. Our aim is to help as many as we can but we cannot do it alone,” Harvinder Singh said.

The group's medical team has taken over the local hospital – which it operates in the morning. In the afternoon, the team tends to the needs of victims at refugee camps. Two days ago the medical team performed an emergency caesarean operation but could only save the mother.

“At present, we are in great need of funds. We also need medical supplies and transportation in the form of ships to ferry our volunteers and goods to Aceh. We are calling for everyone to help us aid the victims,” said Harvinder Singh.

Donate online at www.snsm.org.my or www.unitedsikhs.org

[no_one]

gosh that is very alarming.. Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru Waheguru

there must have been lots of decomposing bodies, I think it's a great Seva being done by these people - they have got to be pretty strong to be dealing with this so selflessly (and bravely!)

Lets try to help United Sikhs!!