Foreign aid starts trickling in

DONGGALA: Foreign aircraft have begun arriving in Indonesia to assist in relief efforts after earthquakes and a tsunami devastated Sulawesi island.

The Indonesian government initially refused to accept international help, insisting its own military could handle the response, but as the scale of the disaster became clear President Joko Widodo reluctantly agreed to allow in foreign aid.

Twenty-nine countries have pledged aid, according to Indonesia, but the delay in inviting help and severed transport links means little foreign help has arrived.

Palu airport – which was only accepting military flights in the early stages of the disaster – opened to commercial services yesterday but only a limited number, with aid workers given priority.

An Indonesian navy ship docked in the city yesterday carrying water, rice and food, which was loaded by soldiers onto trucks.

“We have to get to places where people need aid really quickly,” said first admiral Dwi Sulakson.

Desperate survivors waited to get a spot on the vessel which was set to return to the city of Makassar in southern Sulawesi, and brief scuffles broke out with soldiers.

Eleven aircraft from Singapore, South Korea, Japan and others will take part in transporting relief aid and evacuating victims.

Two Hercules C-130 cargo aircraft from Singapore were already on standby in the city of Balikpapan on Borneo. An Australian air force C-130 Hercules was expected to land in Indonesia yesterday, with clothes, bedding, tools, tarpaulins and food, the Australian Associated Press said.

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent said its personnel are “pushing their way through debris and damaged roads to reach new areas and try to help the survivors, and they are finding devastation and tragedy everywhere”.

Its spokesman, Iris van Deinse, said three ships carrying water trucks, field kitchens and other goods were on their way to the disaster zone, the first of which was expected to arrive yesterday.

International charity Oxfam said it was working to ensure about 500,000 could get clean water, hygiene kits and shelter packs. – Agencies