More than 1,656 tonnes of food and non-food relief items to
earthquake survivors in West Sumatra have been transported by 424
IOM trucks this week.

Two thirds of the cargo, which came from 62 different aid
agencies and the government, was rice destined for
earthquake-affected areas suffering food shortages.

Other loads included desperately needed shelter items for people
made homeless by the 30 September quake, which severely damaged
some 135,000 houses in the remote region.

IOM's Padang logistics hub is also working closely with
hospitals in Padang, Pariaman and Agam districts and the Indonesian
military's offshore floating hospital to provide transport for
patients and their families wanting to return home after medical
treatment.

"This service helps patients to recover faster as they don't
need to be concerned about getting home or receiving follow up
treatment. IOM has committed to helping them as needed," says
Colonel Dr. Arie Zakaria of the Dr. Soeharto Hospital Ship.

Four hospitals, 12 community health centres and 10 health posts
were damaged by the quake, which killed at least 809 people and
left thousands injured.

IOM's response to the West Sumatra earthquake is funded by the
European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO).

For more information, please contact:

Jihan Labetubun

IOM Padang

Tel. +62.8111907028

E-mail: "mailto:jlabetubun@iom.int">jlabetubun@iom.int