Brussels, 5 January, INSI - The International News Safety Institute has sent 50 basic first aid kits to Indonesian journalists as part of the tidal wave aid effort.

The kits, which include bandages, dressings, face masks, surgical gloves and resuscitation devices, were sent by courier to Indonesia's Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) and should arrive by the weekend.

More than 130 journalists and other news media workers have been reported missing, believed dead, in Indonesia following the earthquake and tidal waves that devastated large parts of Asia.

The first aid kits were taken from INSI's stocks intended for journalists working in hostile environments.

"It's a small gesture in the enormity of the disaster but we had to do whatever we could to help our colleagues and friends," said INSI Director Rodney Pinder.

"We will be taking more supplies when we open INSI's Asia office in Indonesia in a couple of weeks' time."

Eddy Suprapto, president of the AJI, is a member of INSI's Advisory Board.

Financial assistance for the AJI can be sent to:

Other assistance can be sent to: