Now the troops move in as world aid tops pounds 1 billion: Relief reaches worst-hit areas UN makes emergency appeal Official tsunami toll nears 150,000

• Published in: The Observer (London)
• Main Author: Martin Bright, Heather Stewart and Jason Burke Phuket
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: London (UK) Guardian News & Media Limited 02.01.2005
• ISSN: 0029-7712

The president of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, admitted that assistance was slow in coming to the town of Meulaboh and other areas in tremendous need, and asked the world for help. 'I appeal to the world community to contribute to the reconstruction of Indonesia , which has been hit by disaster, and we welcome those contributions as a manifestation of global unity,' he said. At least nine Seahawk helicopters from a US aircraft carrier off Sumatra began flying supplies to coastal cities closest to the earthquake's epicentre. In Banda Aceh, tons of rice, water, tarpaulins and medical supplies began arriving in trucks and aircraft. Australian troops are already on the ground. Treasury officials confirmed that the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, would begin immediate discussions on the relief of Indonesia's pounds 75bn debt burden this week. 'As chair of the G8, the UK will strive not only for an international co-ordinated effort of sustained aid to meet the immediate humanitarian needs, but will also take the lead in looking at how we can use debt relief to alleviate the economic consequences of this natural disaster over the longer term,' said a Treasury spokesman.