[shubi]

"Air Force cargo planes are doing drops where islands used to be in the vague hope that there will be someone there who can use the flotation devices and relief food packs, though no one is holding their breath."

No one is holding their breath- you could have chosen your words a little better, there. ;-)

I think what we need to face is the Bandeh Aceh region is pretty much gone. I would bet the people in the remote areas are doing just fine, those that survived. Rural people normally are more resourceful than soft city dwellers.

[Red Sea Swimmer]

I can assure you that the people of Banda Aceh, (Please Note - It's a capital city not a region), are not "soft city dwellers". The Acehnese are very proud and independent people.

Also, huge numbers of the "rural people" on the west coast of Aceh are not doing fine. Over 40,000 people have died. Can you imagine the trauma and pain of the friends and relatives of the deceased ?

Hidup Indonesia !