Today was an incredibly sad day, despite the fact that it is both Susi and Christians birthday. We flew the heads of the seven largest banks and their assistants in two Susi air airplanes first to Banda Aceh, then along the coast from Banda Aceh over Calang and then to Meulaboh and back to Medan. In Banda Aceh we went to the coordination center which is based in the governors office/residence. Hundreds of people around all working furiously. A young man was standing on crutches with both feet amputated. I saw some wokers sharing a single cracker. Numerous columns all covered with many posters of missing people, especially children. Most can be assumed dead. However, Iti reported from Meulaboh that he had found an orphanage camp of 40 children, not receiving any care. Also Brahm reported an unknown refugee camp of 476 people that he found near Meulaboh.. While driving back to the airport at Banda Aceh, a dump truck full of bodies passed us and pulled over into a mass grave site. Yesterday they buried 2900 bodies. Today it was only 2700.

On the coastline just south of Banda Aceh as well in most of Banda Aceh, the devastation varies from massive to more than total, even the land being gone. Mike spotted a bridge heading out into a bay. Then the road began for a short period on the other side of the bay. It had been a populous town. Now a bay. Christian pointed to a mud flat that had been a large south Banda Aceh suburb. Not even a trace of anything. A mud flat. We passed over numerous people waving frantically as they were still stranded out in totally inaccessible places. Surrrounded by deep water. Nothing there. There is intense helicopter traffic up and down the coast but we are talking about a very large remaining population. The problem is that in these sand bars which is all that remains of peoples villages, there is no way to get to them other than helicopter. And there simply arent enough helicopters. And now Christian reads in the news that the US will pull out as soon as someone takes over. DONT! STAY HERE! Every available helicopter is desperately needed.

We stopped in Meulaboh where the bankers took a short tour. Then we took Susis son Hermann along with us, as well as Red Cross personnel. Hermann, who has been staying in Meulaboh, reported meeting a lady who had lost all of her family. She came up to him and buttoned his shirt and said now my son you are neat and tidy. Take care of yourself. She was in intense grief and wanted a son, anybody. Everybody she knew was gone.

Tonight we are all exhausted, not from our schedule which was short today  only 6AM to 8 PM. We are weak from what we have seen. Everywhere one goes one sees people, locals and aid workers, sleeping whenever they get a chance. There is simply no time for sleep. Everyone is working themselves to exhaustion. But it doesnt matter  no matter how hard you work, how tired you are, it is not nearly as bad as what others are facing.

Anybody who thinks this catastrophe is over due to the lack of news is sorely mistaken. There are still many many thousands of people in DESPERATE need of everything. Where does one start when all that is left of ones village, if you are lucky, is some dirt? And when you are weak from lack of food and water and the grief of losing most of your family how can you work on rebuilding. The situation remains desperate despite the massive aid being poured in. The rebuilding of a basic life for these people will take a long time. Every available person and dollar can be put to good use here for a long time.

We ask everyone, from the depth of all of our hearts, to do their best to help.

Sadly yours,

Joe, Mike Vince, Brahm, Iti, Christian, Susi and all the others who are here and can feel what it means.

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