January 14, 2005
Hello Vince
We are awaiting a flight to Meulaboh this morning. Everything is still full
with higher priorities than ours. Been waiting since yesterday morning. The
good news is that funding has been assured for the new aircraft and we could
possibly be operational in a week – providing we have operational funds.
We just received two desperation phone calls in the last 5 minutes. The phones
ring continuously. One was about a 3 week old baby that was taken from the Meulaboh
hospital by the mother since it wasn’t receiving care. The baby will almost
certainly die.
The next was a call for $1200 needed for a prosthesis before a doctor would
amputate a leg. Meanwhile the boy is suffering. Susi said she would pay for
it. We in the field get these calls nonstop and we cannot afford to say yes
very much longer.
There is no way a major organization will be able to react quickly enough to
these situations. They must be privately funded and a source for guaranteeing
these funds is necessary as all of our resources are limited. If you could set
up a fund so we know the balance and can say yes when these situations arise
it would help a lot.
Victor has two helicopters ready to serve the most needy areas of remote Meulaboh.
He needs guaranteed funding of $10,000 each way to deliver the copters. He also
needs a guarantee of operational funds (at cost) which will be $3000 per day
if he operates full time. He needs a guarantee of a couple months at least before
he can proceed. Otherwise he will have to return to work to earn an income.
The bulk of this funding can probably be ultimately provided by major sources
but they move like snails. If Guam can provide the seed money to get it going,
we will buy time to pursue the major funding sources. This will feed about 3600
people per day.
As an example of how slowly funds move down the line, we carried, at my expense,
a Red Cross team of Drs and nurses to Meulaboh. They had no other way to get
there and the team and tetanus vaccines were desperately needed. Donations go
to Red Cross and their people in the field and the people doing the work for
them – us – get nothing. The bottom line is the team and vaccines
got there at my expense and our effort and many lives were saved.
We are working closely in partnership with Susi Air, the first plane to land
in Meulaboh after the Tsunami. They are carrying supplies and people for us
when space available. We should support them fully – with money. They
charter the flight for $4,500 per flight. Refugees go free on their flights.
We support them with flight staff, Mike and I, and logistic support for medical
teams and supplies and coordinating with the Meulaboh hospitals through Brahm
and Iti.
Vince, please let me know what has been arranged with the Guam community. To
date I have no guarantee of anything, I will stay here an lend support but without
guaranteed support Victor will have to leave and Mikes vacation period is almost
finished.
Please help us help them - NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joe