ACEH TAMIANG \u2014 For many people, Ramadan is a moment to return home to\nwarmth. But for hydrometeorological disaster survivors in Aceh Tamiang,\n\u2018home\u2019 now is a tarpaulin sheet that no longer withholds the onslaught\nof the weather. When it rains, the air is cold to the bone, the\nsurrounding area turns to mud and damp; in the dry season, the mud that\nhas dried becomes a choking dust. The scorching sun during the hot\nseason also bites, making fasting feel even more \u2018challenging\u2019.<\/p>\n
Amid conditions far from recovery, the holy month of Ramadan 1447\nHijri arrives as a guest. For the refugees, this year\u2019s Ramadan is met\nwith extraordinary acceptance, even though the bitterness cannot be\nhidden. One line of sorrow is visible on the face of M Shaleh (73) on\nWednesday (4 March 2026). In his old age, he must accept the bitter\ntruth that his assets have vanished entirely. \u2018My house has disappeared,\nswept away. It feels very different from last year,\u2019 he said\ngravely.<\/p>\n
Not only his dwelling, but his livelihood as a breeder has also been\ndecimated. His cattle were swept away by the floodwaters. Now, he can\nonly be patient, living in a hot tent while trying to stitch together\nthe hopes that were torn apart.<\/p>\n
Another voice, Ariyani (52). \u2018Now I am staying with a house, but it\nis only half-constructed. We house four families (KK),\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n
They cannot imagine Eid al-Fitr in the future. Without solid walls,\nthe idea of celebrating Eid under the refugees\u2019 tents feels grey and\nstifling.<\/p>\n
However, amid these constraints, a ray of hope appears as the Dompet\nDhuafa team remains in Aceh Tamiang to distribute aid in the form of\nRamadan Parcels. The parcels are designed to meet basic needs while\nstrengthening the survivors\u2019 spirituality. The Ramadan Parcels include\nstaples (food supplies), dates for sahur and iftar, and new items for\nworship.<\/p>\n
The presence of this aid brings a warmth of its own. Shaleh, Ariyani,\nand other beneficiaries cannot hide their happiness as they embrace the\nRamadan Parcels. For them, the aid is not merely food; it is a message\nthat they are not alone in this struggle.<\/p>\n
Ahmad Yamin, Disaster Response Coordinator for the DMC in Aceh\nTamiang, said the aid is not merely a logistics package, but a message\nthat they are not alone in facing this disaster. \u2018Through Ramadan\nParcels, we aim to keep the refugees\u2019 camp kitchen bubbling during sahur\nand iftar, and to bring the Sunnah and the sweetness of Ramadan into the\ntents. So that the survivors can observe worship more properly and\ncomfortably,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
Despite a future still shrouded in dust and uncertainty, this gift of\ntriumph becomes fuel for them to stand firmly in worship, to seek\nblessings in the holy month, and to hope that tomorrow will be better\nthan today.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ramadan-parcels-from-dompet-dhuafa-bring-smiles-to-aceh-survivors-beneath-tarpaulins-1772636432", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }