31 March 2005 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo announced that the Philippine government is awaiting the results of the damage assessment being conducted by Indonesian authorities in the wake of the devastation wreaked by the second major quake to hit Western Indonesia in four months.  “The Department is awaiting the advice of the Indonesian Government as President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo affirmed the readiness of the Philippines to extend whatever assistance we can offer based on our neighbor’s assessment of its needs,” Secretary Romulo said.

Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Shulan O. Primavera informed Secretary Romulo that Indonesian authorities would immediately inform the Philippine Embassy of the results of their damage assessment on the earthquake-affected areas.

Ambassador Primavera also reported that a number of other countries have immediately pledged support to Indonesia following the 8.7-magnitude earthquake that shook parts of Northern Sumatra Province and other smaller adjacent islands along the archipelago’s Western coast on 28 March 2005.

According to Ambassador Primavera, Australia, Japan and India have offered to deploy relief workers to the disaster areas, as well as give emergency relief supplies and monetary aid, pending the results of Indonesia’s damage assessment, which would determine what level of aid response is required.

The DFA disclosed that in a letter to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President Arroyo also conveyed the condolences and sympathies of the Filipino nation to its close friend and regional ally.  In her message, President Arroyo expressed the Philippines’ solidarity with the Indonesian people in this time of monumental disaster and as such, the Philippines is ready to send a medical-civic contingent to help in the relief efforts.

Pursuant to the President’s instructions, Secretary Romulo said the DFA is now coordinating with the Department of Health (DoH) on the response of the Philippines to the specific needs requirements of Indonesia.

It may be recalled that the Philippines, through the DoH, sent two medical-civic teams to aid in the international relief efforts conducted in Banda Aceh in the wake of the 26 December 2004 killer tsunami that struck Indonesia and other countries in the rim of the Indian Ocean.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Primavera also reported that as of 31 March 2005 the Philippine Embassy has still not received any information on any Filipino victim in the earthquake-affected areas of Nias Island and other neighboring areas.  The Philippine Embassy is maintaining close coordination with Filipino and other international organizations located within and close to the disaster areas like Banda Aceh and Medan City for reports of any Filipino resident or relief worker that may have been affected by the quake.

A powerful earthquake struck at sea between Indonesia’s Nias Island (North Sumatra Province) and Simeulue Island (Aceh Province) at 2309 HRS (Indonesian time) last Monday.  The quake lasted for about 2 minutes and measured 8.7 in magnitude, according to information conveyed by the Philippine Embassy.  Ambassador Primavera likewise reported that President Yudhoyono, while acknowledging that the death toll may rise to the thousands, preferred to stick to conservative figures of casualty reports.

Local officials have confirmed that 430 bodies have been recovered in Nias and Simeulue Islands, Ambassador Primavera said. END
 

/jay