Indonesia Quake-Tsunami: Relief teams struggle to reach remote areas, death toll climbs above 2,000

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02:30

The One-and-half hour drive from Palu to Sigi was not particularly difficult, but for 10 days medical aid groups were so consumed by the devastation in the city. No doctor has visited this community.

ANDI HENRA WIJAYACEO, YAYASAN CAHAYA HATI INDONESIA "We already have the original information. But before they came here, I already discussed with the health center in Palu, and then they informed us that the majority medical aid is already in the city. So we try to find the other villages. Where there is a village that is difficult to have medical team to come, we try to come."

Cahaya Hati is a Jakatar-based NGO that aims to deliver medical services to rural Indonesia. A group of eight doctors came with 4WD and had to walk the last kilometer to this village of 40 families.

MIRO LU SIGI, INDONESIA "Medical aid groups and NGOs are combing through the rural areas outside of Palu city. Ten days after the earthquake destroyed fours houses and injured two, one medical group finally reached this remote village."

At the beginning, the villagers were shy. Soon after, everyone came out. It was almost festive. Woman talking, children playing, medicines were passed around and so were coconuts. But the village chief was concerned.

ISMAIL HEAD OF VILLAGE 4 "Obviously there is an impact on the village, but because the village is far from the city, it took time for assistance to reach us. On top of that, there is a large number of evacuees, especially in the city. Urban families have been prioritized over us in the village."

Doctor Hariyanto said the villagers suffer from trauma and stress after the twin disasters, resulting in almost all of them having high blood pressure.

ISMAIL HEAD OF VILLAGE 4 "Things are slowly getting back to normal but it is clear that our daily activities have been disturbed. We had to put a hold on farming activities, which is quite a change. Our main issue is that we do not generate as much income, while spending continues."

This village of 40 households have also been living on their food reserves. The disruption of logistics has stopped buyers from purchasing their crops. With future income not secured, it may take a while before they feel the real pinch of the disasters. Miro LU, CGTN, Sigi.