LATEST NEWS + UPDATES
from ISLAND-AID in West Sumatra
by Island Aid on Tuesday, January 25
@ 4:10 AM
The Batavia refueled last night in Sibolga, and is now enroute to the Banyaks. Sibolga lived up to its reputation as a "weaping wound on the underbelly of Sumatra". Funds we sent to our "agent" as a down payment for fuel the day before have vanished along with the agent himself. We dock in the dark and begin a frenzied search for fuel.
The situation on the dock gets tense as the local mafia try to muscle in on the deal. Rick calls them animals and asks to meet the Bupati. Order returns and after a long wait the drums of fuel start to arrive. We check every one and reject a lot that have water in the bottom. It is slow and dirty work to refuel this way and Batavia takes a massive 38 tons to top up her tanks.
As at 1300 local time, the ship has weighed anchor in Singkil, awaiting a CARE boat to come and pick up some care buckets and boxes for distribution. More information as it comes in
on this article
To veiw older news and updates please visit our archives
December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006