MAF Airborne Relief On The Scene In Indonesia

MAF is on site in Medan on the island of Sumatra responding to the overwhelming disaster. Hardest hit by the earthquake and tsunami, most of the northern province of Aceh has been leveled. Most bridges and roads have been obliterated; communications are wiped out in the affected area.

Having served the people of Indonesia since 1954, MAF is a well-respected organization, both by the locals, NGOs, and the Indonesian government. MAF is well known for having conducted and coordinated effective relief efforts resulting from earthquakes and famines, several of them in Indonesia. Already, several NGOs and government agencies have requested that MAF provide the lead in coordinating multi-agency efforts, both to meet pressing needs as well as help in the rebuilding efforts expected to take several years.

At the request of the Indonesia Air Force, MAF has already positioned aircraft in Sibolga where more than 40 tons of supplies await distribution to survivors. This site is currently the primary MAF staging center of relief aid for the province of Aceh. From Sibolga and a second airstrip in Meulaboh, MAF will serve the islands of Nias and Simuelve off the west coast of Sumatra. MAF pilots, all of whom speak Indonesian, are presently assessing the Meulaboh airstrip’s viability.

The MAF logistics and coordination efforts are now taking place from a central coordinating center in Medan on Sumatra’s northeast coast. With ground transportation severely hampered and relief tonnage increasing by the hour, the small MAF fixed-wing aircraft are ideal for targeted localized distribution where supplies are most needed.

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan stated that the relief operation would require a massive effort. "We are going to need major logistical support: airplanes, helicopters, and air controllers to assist us move the produce and goods as quickly as possible so that we don't have bottlenecks." During a January 2 interview on CNN, Secretary of State Colin Powell added, "The problem right now is getting supplies to large airports and seaports and then retail distribution.... What those nations need...(are) small fixed-wing airplanes that can get out to those remote areas."

Already operating from 11 bases in Papua and Kalimantan and with an administrative office in Jakarta, MAF is already formulating plans to redeploy some of its pilots and support personnel to Sumatra.

MAF is assisting in the overall coordination of relief efforts and working to install a communications network using satellites. MAF is appealing to contributors everywhere to provide funding for this unprecedented relief effort.

FMI: www.maf.org