Chaos and Delays Plague Indonesia Tsunami Relief Operation

Nivell Rayda

Despite being the capital of Mentawai district, tsunami relief efforts in Tuapejat are apparently in chaos, with food and medical supplies not only arriving late but also spoiling due to mishandling and negligence.

The first batch of government aid arrived in Tuapejat, on the island of Sipora, only on Friday afternoon, a full four days after the earthquake-triggered tsunami swept the group of islands off the western coast of Sumatra. The supplies were routed from Sikakap, on a small island to the south where relief efforts are being coordinated.

But about 20 percent of the ton of rice earmarked for the victims was drenched by seawater and heavy rains, while many cardboard boxes containing instant noodles and milk were also destroyed by water.

Some of the supplies have been going missing in less accidental ways. “Don’t tell anyone,” said one worker as he stuffed two tins of sardines in the pocket of his trousers. Other workers were spotted drinking bottled water meant for the victims.

Seeing the drenched rice, a senior police officer overseeing the shipment called over residents waiting for passenger boats in the harbor.

“These sacks of rice are soaked, it will rot before it even gets to the victims. Give it to these people here,” the officer told the workers.

At least 20 sacks, each containing at least 10 kilograms of rice, were handed out to the people of Tuapejat.

“Can we also keep the blankets that were drenched in water?” a local asked a worker.

At least 96 people are still missing in the wake of the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that drove a tsunami onto the Mentawai Islands on Oct. 25, and the death toll now stands at 449. Mentawai’s four main islands were devastated by the waves, displacing almost 13,000 people.

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