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Indonesia Tsunami Relief Update

Banda Aceh, Indonesia
There are clear signs of recovery in Banda Aceh city, but the situation on the west coast is still critical. Hence a joint AMURT/Gemma 9 reconnaissance team left by boat to Leupung on the west coast of Sumatra on 26th Jan with drinking water and super fortified biscuits. We will set up a buffer camp in Leupung town to assist survivors walking on foot towards relocation camps in Banda Aceh. Many small coastal towns remain stranded due the obliteration of key bridges and large portions of road, and people there are facing severe shortages of food and water.

Child Care Activities
The AMURT/AMURTEL teams are providing daily, non-formal education and recreational activities for children aged 3-12 years in Lambpisang and Neuheun relief camps in Aceh Besar District (Greater Banda Aceh area). AMURTEL is also providing psycho-social counseling for over 200 traumatized teenagers in the Neuheun camp.

The children have benefited tremendously from our activities. Many have eased their traumas through drawing and painting.

We also serve nutritious meals of sweet rice, vegetables, milk and fruit to the children, which is a wonderful change from the drab diet of rice, noodles and biscuits they are normally given at the camp.

One day one of our volunteers gave a ride to three youths to their village. When they reached a destroyed clump of wood one of them said, "This was my house. To escape from the waves, I climbed up that tree and I could see everything. I saw all my family washed away, my house washed away, and even my cows. I remained in the tree for 5 hours until the waves subsided. I lost everything.

Village Rehabilitation
The former personal secretary of the Aceh Provincial Governor accompanied us on a visit to the village chief of Neuheun, one of the relief camps where we have our educational activities

 
AMURT plans to help Zainun and his wife
Jasmiati rebuild their home.

Neuheun is the largest village in the Aceh Besar sub-district, with 1731 residents. Together we made plans for two rehabilitation programs in the village: rebuilding 32 destroyed homes and rehabilitating the cottage industry brick kilns that employ 75% of the villagers. AMURT is planning to help Mr. Jamaluddin, the chief of Neuheun village,  rebuild the brick kiln industry.

 
 Destroyed brick kiln

The villagers we encountered strongly wish to get on with their lives. Home is home, however damaged it may be. We have found the Acehnese to be a very proud and independent people. If we can help them shift back into their structures, they are willing to struggle hard to restore their lives.