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Chizuyo Inoue's Posting from the Tsunami Dialogue:

January 24, 2005

Now I am in Medan. I arrived on the 22nd with 14 boxes of medicines, half of them for children. So far most of the medicines distributed have been for grown ups, so the people are happy to receive the medicines for children. (About $3,000 worth, mostly from donations brought by Nance O’Neil from the U.S.)

Last night we had an evaluation meeting of Jarkas (a network for humanitarian aid in Aceh and North Sumatra) at the Franciscan Capuchin community house. About 15 people gathered and reports from Banda Aceh and Meulaboh were shared. In Bandah Aceh many international soldiers and NGOs are there and the city is gradually moving and some simple shops are opening. Young volunteers are working in one corner of the city with doctors and nurses from the Franciscan group. They are trying to listen to the people's suffering from the tsunami.

In Meulaboh the volunteers are well accepted by the villagers. There are 3 centers. When Linley was there she was practically the only one who could take care of the sick, but now 2 doctors and 3 nurses are there. Linley took care of more tham 250 patients during the 10 days she was there. She took a few to the hospital in Aceh. She also took care of children and let them draw pictures. Only one child drew a tsunami picture; the others all drew flowers with bright colours.

Eventually they want to have a non-formal education for the children. They also prepare some tools for cooking so that they are not dependent. On the 22nd of Jan. Islam had a big celebration, so most of the people went to gather with their family members who are still alive. They will go back to camp because they have nothing to eat.

Tomorrow I shall prepare some Islam books and Al Quran for the children in Medan.

One man was running from the wave with his children in his arms but finally the wave was so strong and he could not keep his children.. He lost all his family, house, field. He was crying, saying, "God must have been angry with me!"

So many NGOs are trying hard and there are complexities to having real solidarity and working together for the VICTIMS. At least in a small way I am trying to have good relationships with NGOs through my friends.

Asking your prayer..... with many thanks.

Love,

Inoue