Reporters' log: USS Abraham Lincoln has arrived off Sumatran coast

[Be Brave]

Saturday 1 January

Rachel Harvey : Banda Aceh, Indonesia : 0457 GMT

A US aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, has arrived off the Sumatran coast and the first of 12 helicopters have already arrived.

Their mission is to get help to areas which have been cut off from the outside world.

They are reported to be carrying food, water and generators. Back on board, the Americans say they have the facilities to purify up to 90,000 gallons of water a day.

The scene at Banda Aceh's tiny airport is chaotic. Planes are arriving full of aid only to find that there isn't enough manpower to unload the cargo and there's a shortage of safe places to store supplies.

If the relief effort is to be in any way effective, co-ordination now is vital.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4139115.stm

[NVMojo]

1. ah, my tax dollars are finally going to a cause I support ...

[juliagoolia]

2. YES YES!! YES!!!!!

What we have hoped and prayed/meditated and paid for.

I am so glad to be able to pay taxes to do something good in the world.

How much more proud I am of America when she supports mercy and goodness and is really a beacon of hope!


Tears are falling for the right reasons! We are doing something RIGHT!! for the RIGHT REASONS!

HUMANITY instead of religion, and humility instead of pride!