U.S. Navy helicopters will begin airlifting survivors from remote areas of Indonesia's tsunami-devastated Aceh province, a move the United Nations calls vital to rescue operations in the region.
U.S., Australian and Indonesian military helicopters are also dropping food and supplies to hungry people left stranded in isolated western areas of the province.
Large areas of Aceh province remain inaccessible to emergency crews on the ground one week after the area was battered by massive waves triggered by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake near its coast.
The tsunami pounded coastlines in a dozen Indian Ocean countries, leaving 127,000 people known dead. Millions more people are now homeless and in need of emergency assistance.
Aid is being rushed to the region, but logistical bottlenecks, destroyed infrastructure, and bad weather are hindering distribution.
Relief agencies warn it may take weeks to get aid to some needy people.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
