Refugees in Medan return to Aceh<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post\/Medan<\/p>\n
After staying for almost a month in a camp in Medan, Cnumuk, an
\nIndonesian of Chinese ethnicity, was elated when he heard the
\nnews he could return to Aceh.<\/p>\n
The 58-year-old man has been determined to leave for his
\nhometown in Banda Aceh -- along with other men in the camp -- as
\na volunteer.<\/p>\n
His wife and three children will remain in Medan, while he
\nsearches for his two other children and two grandchildren, who
\nhave been missing since Dec. 26.<\/p>\n
\"I'm confused here, never knowing what to do. I'd rather
\nreturn to Banda Aceh and become a volunteer. I can be useful
\nthere, and search for my children,\" Cnumuk told The Jakarta Post
\nbefore departing for Banda Aceh on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
His children, Melinda and Sani, are missing along with
\nMelinda's children, Desi and Devi. Melinda's husband, Iwal, an
\nAcehnese, survived the disaster, which devastated their house in
\nPlunge, Blang Cut.<\/p>\n
Cnumuk said he would have to start over again when he returned
\nto Banda Aceh as everything, including his house, was destroyed
\nby the tidal waves.<\/p>\n
Though, as his belongings have been reduced to the clothes on
\nhis back he will have to wait for the government's assistance to
\nrebuild his house.<\/p>\n
Until that time, his wife and children will stay in Medan,
\nwhere they have somewhere to stay at least.<\/p>\n
\"If everything returns to normal, the town has been cleaned up
\nand houses, rebuilt, only then will I take them home to Aceh.
\nBesides, it's not good staying in a camp for long,\" said Cnumuk,
\nwho repaired motorcycles in a workshop at his house before the
\ndisaster.<\/p>\n
Cnumuk said, despite the possibility of aftershocks, he is not
\nafraid to live in Banda Aceh again, although he would always
\nremember the horror of Dec. 26.<\/p>\n
Another Chinese-Indonesian displaced by the tsunami, Hasian,
\nsaid there was no reasons for them to stay much longer in the
\ncamp.<\/p>\n
The 47-year-old said he would return to his hometown in Banda
\nAceh, although the tidal waves had swept away all his belongings.<\/p>\n
\"We come from Aceh, so, like it or not, we will return to
\nAceh. We don't mind starting from scratch, we just have to
\nreturn,\" said Hasin, who used to own a car repair shop in Kota
\nAlam.<\/p>\n
Coordinator of the Indonesian-Chinese Refugees Mutual Aid
\nOrganization, Andriadi, said on Tuesday that around 100 displaced
\npeople had returned to Banda Aceh through the organization,
\naccompanied by two truck-loads of relief supplies.<\/p>\n
Last week, he said, some 20 refugees had returned to Banda
\nAceh as volunteers for the organization to set up a post that
\nwould assist people arriving from Medan.<\/p>\n
\"We can only smooth the process for those who wish to return
\nto Banda Aceh,\" Andriadi said.<\/p>\n
He said the people who arrived in Banda Aceh on Tuesday had
\nbeen selected to return as their homes had been destroyed and
\nthey needed extra time to rebuild them.<\/p>\n
He said that the organization had also sent 27 other displaced
\npeople to Meulaboh on Jan. 20.<\/p>\n
Based on data from several posts, around 7,000 Indonesians of
\nChinese ethnicity fled to Medan for safety after the disaster,
\nmost of them came from Banda Aceh or Meulaboh.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/refugees-in-medan-return-to-aceh-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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