Problems linger as aid flows in for Java quake

BANTUL, Indonesia - International relief efforts picked up today for survivors of the earthquake that killed more than 5700 people on Indonesia's Java island, but many victims complained that vital aid was not reaching them.

Planes carrying supplies and foreign experts, including Japanese paramedics and a contingent of US Marines, reached the stricken region to reinforce government aid and workers.

The landed at the airport of the ancient royal capital of Yogyakarta, which re-opened to commercial traffic despite a heavily damaged terminal. A 135-member US military medical unit was expected to arrive by Tuesday night.

UN officials said more than 22 countries had responded to Indonesia's call for help with aid or pledges of assistance. But help was still a long way off for some.

Near Bantul town, the area hardest hit by the quake, Jumadi and his two barefoot teenage boys begged motorists for money.

"Our village has many victims, houses are all destroyed and we have not received aid from the government. What else can we do?" he said.

Edward Beigbeder, head of the UN children fund operation in Yogyakarta, said incoming aid was insufficient to meet demand. "We're doing a race against the clock," he said. "It's difficult enough trying to help 120,000 people in two days."

The official death toll had reached 5732 by last night, according to the government's Social Affairs Department. One estimate put the number of homeless at more than 130,000, many of whom were left without any shelter and short of food.

Government and aid group officials said clean water and shelter were the immediate needs, as well as medical care.

The United Nations is shipping three 100-bed field hospitals, tents, medical supplies and generators this week.

The International Organisation for Migration said today it had delivered 35 tonnes of relief materials to four locations, including Bantul, the district that suffered the most.

Asian Development Bank President Haruhiko Kuroda said the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had learnt lessons from the Dec 26, 2004 Indian Ocean quake and subsequent tsunami that left 170,000 Indonesians killed or missing.

"This time the government was very quick in responding to the need," Kuroda tolds Reuters, praising the administration for restoring electricity and other utilities so quickly.

But that meant little to many.

In the Bantul area, entire villages were destroyed. In tiny Prenggan village, which is surrounded by rice fields, homes were reduced to piles of wood, tiles and tin, and survivors used whatever they could find to construct makeshift tents.

"We have very little food or water," said Trimoseh, whose house was flattened. "Until now we haven't had any aid. But we are not angry, we are just hungry. We will wait for food."

The hospital in Bantul was overflowing with quake victims, with patients lying on trolleys, benches and mats on the floor.

The air inside the crowded wards was still, stale and tinged with disinfectant and excrement while makeshift tent wards had been set up in the hospital courtyards.

Mohammad Yunus sat in the stifling humid heat under an army tent. He had a bandaged foot and ankle, which had brushed against a live electricity wire when he escaped from his crumbling home.

"I didn't feel anything when the quake happened. I just thought I should save my two children. I managed to get to them and threw myself over them as the roof fell on us. They are okay."

In Bantul town, Muhadi, 55, wearing a black Muslim cap, said he was back in business, selling rice from his poky kiosk.

"Yesterday I opened the shop. It's better than staying at home doing nothing, (though) there were only a few buyers."

The tremor, which hit at daybreak on Saturday, was centred just off the Indian Ocean coast near Yogyakarta.

Yudhoyono, who moved his office temporarily to Yogyakarta, vowed on Monday all relief funds would be spent on earthquake victims. Indonesia is notorious for endemic corruption.

The government has set aside relief funds of 100 billion rupiah ($17.02 million) for the next three months. A year of reconstruction and rehabilitation will begin after August, costing the government 1.1 trillion rupiah.

The quake was the latest misfortune to hit the world's fourth-most populated country after Islamic militant bombings, bird flu outbreaks and the 2004 tsunami.

The quake initially heightened activity at nearby Mount Merapi volcano -- already sporadically spouting for weeks -- sparking fears that a massive eruption was imminent.

Vulcanologist expert Subandrio told Reuters it was still uncertain how the earthquake had affected the volcano, but said Merapi had been less active yesterday than the day before.

Indonesia sits on the Asia-Pacific's so-called "Ring of Fire", which is marked by heavy volcanic and tectonic activity.

- REUTERS