Tsunami disaster update
By Daily Bruin Staff
Feb. 17, 2005 9:00 p.m.
“¢bull; Hours after the Dec. 26 tsunami struck the eastern Sri
Lanka village, an infant was found by a neighbor on a beach among
bodies and debris and taken to a hospital. Doctors dubbed him
“˜”˜Baby 81” because he was the day’s
81st admission. Nine grieving, distraught women initially claimed
him, but only one, Jenita Jeyarajah, went to court. “Baby
81″ was reunited with his family on Wednesday after a judge
said tests confirmed the baby was her 4-month-old son Abilass.
“¢bull; In the immediate aftermath of the quake and tsunami
disaster, 18 elephants in Aceh did the work of scarce trucks,
bulldozers and other heavy machinery.
“¢bull; Since Asian elephants began helping clear debris in
Indonesia’s Aceh province after the Dec. 26 tsunami, they
have picked up minor on-the-job injuries. Officials say none of the
wounds are serious, but conservationists want the practice
ended.
“¢bull; The debate over elephants in the relief work force comes
as international attention focuses on a mobilization of money and
aid from around the globe to help survivors of the Indian Ocean
earthquake and tsunami. Most of the tsunami’s 165,000 victims
died in Aceh.
Compiled from Bruin wire services.
