Hello all. It’s now 7:30pm in Padang on New Year’s Eve, and our relief effort is in full swing.

The aid organization "Indonesian Development of Education and Permaculture" (IDEP) arrived today at the hotel in Padang. Two team workers, Lee Downey and Sam Schultz, brought 10 suitcases filled with medical supplies with them from Bali. They helped us get together a list of more medicines we needed to buy from local pharmacies. Scuzz and Alyssa (Scuzz’s sister), together with a local doctor from Yos Sodarso Hospital here in Padang, bought boxes of masks, medications, and equipment.

Christina is working with IDEP representative, Petra Schneider, to keep aid money coming in to supply the boats with supplies they may need. IDEP is working with Microsoft to put together an online donation facility. Please log on to www.idepfoundation.org for more details and updates. They have set up a PayPal link so you can make quick, reliable donations. As stated in the first update, you can continue to make donations to us here at Sumatran Surfariis directly by sending funds to our reps in Australia and the United States, but donating to IDEP is a quicker and more direct route.

One boat is going out at 9:00pm tonight, fully loaded with all we can buy here in Padang. Another boat is going out tomorrow morning, also fully loaded. (editor’s note, both boats have set sail by the time I could get this update on the site) There have been some inquiries by parties interested in making donations as to which islands we will be visiting. The areas we are trying to hit are the outer lying islands off the coast of west and north Sumatra. Here is a recap of the island chains:

Simeulue Island Chain:
Northern most island chain off the west coast of Aceh. Located 50 – 100 miles south of the earthquake epicenter.

Banyak Island Chain:
99 small islands, southeast of Simeulue Island Chain, in Aceh Province, 100 – 150 miles south/southeast of the epicenter. This Island chain is probably what protected mainland West and South Sumatra including Padang, from disaster.

Nias:
Includes the Island of Nias, and surrounding smaller islands.Located in the North Sumatran Province, approximately 300 miles southeast of the epicenter. Nias is south of the Banyak Island Chain.

Hinakos:
Group of approximately 10 – 12 Islands, about 10 - 15 miles off the west coast of Nias, in the North Sumatra Province.

Telos:
Island chain 40 – 90 miles southeast of Nias Island, approximately 400 miles southeast of the epicenter, in the North Sumatra Province.

Mentawai Island Chain:
This is the longest Island Chain in Sumatra, located approximately 40 miles from the southern end of the Telos. The Mentawais stretch approximately 200 miles in a southeast direction, parallel to Mainland West Sumatra. The Mentawais lay in the West Sumatran Province, approximately 550 miles southeast of the epicenter.

Scuzz's plan is to start in Siberut, the northernmost island in the Mentawais chain, then on to the Telos, Hinakos, and continue to work north from there. Many of these islands are so remote and consequently off people's radar in terms of a relief effort, as the primary focus of Indonesian efforts seems to be on the Aceh region, the Andaman Islands, and the Nicobar Islands. We’ve formed many great relationships with the beautiful people of these regions, and we are proud to do what we can to help. Scuzz will be in constant contact with the home office Padang via satellite phone and radio to let them know what is needed and how they can get the supplies to them.

We are, of course, running into some obstacles along the way. We are having problems getting doctors to go out and properly administer the medications. The fear is that people will not know how to use them and over medicate. We need doctors that can speak Indonesian to be able to communicate and train others what to do.

So far, we’ve personally have received $20,000,000 rupia at the hotel and more than $2,000US from IDEP aid organization to help with our costs. In addition, Danny reports that many have begun to send funds his way and his Inbox has been stuffed with people expressing their concern and willingness to make donations. Specifically, Danny would like to send his thanks to Gary “The Dad” Schuberg and Mike “Dr. Kimura” Vann for their extraordinary generosity and enthusiasm to help those in need.

As you can see from the photos, our hotel has become a kind of base camp for aid. We are beginning to see donations coming in from the local community and larger local stores. Many places have given us cost price on what we are buying. Scuzz has also spoken to Greenpeace who is sending the Rainbow Warrior to Aceh at present. It’s all coming together, finally.

Thanks to all once again for all the help and concern. We are trying to get back to each person individually, however Internet connections are jammed which makes the ever-impersonal bulk addressed email the only way.

Once again…… thanks… and HAPPY NEW YEAR!