Survivors cope with loss by giving<\/p>\n
Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Losing his loved ones in the tsunami disaster devastated
\nAbdurrahman Ali, but he still wants to lend a helping hand.<\/p>\n
The 46-year-old lost his wife and four children on that
\nfateful Sunday, Dec. 26 -- only one of his five children
\nsurvived.<\/p>\n
When the quake-triggered tidal waves rocked the region that
\nday, Abdurrahman, a truck driver, was driving his truck in Banda
\nAceh. When he felt the tremors, he returned home as quickly as he
\ncould to his family in the coastal area of Peukanbada.<\/p>\n
In his village, he heard children yelling, \"water, water\" and
\nseeing the huge waves, he quickly rushed some 50 children into
\nhis truck, as well as his wife and five children.<\/p>\n
However, after driving about 200 meters, a huge wave rolled
\nover the truck and the people inside it. That was the last time
\nAbdurrahman saw four of his children and his wife.<\/p>\n
\"I could hear them crying with desperation,\" recalled
\nAbdurrahman, when sharing his experience with The Jakarta Post by
\nphone from Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman survived by clinging to the door of his wrecked
\ntruck. Even so, he was swept about one kilometer away by the
\nwave.<\/p>\n
\"I searched for my family for three days and only found my 17-
\nyear-old son,\" Abdurrahman told the Post.<\/p>\n
His son is now staying with a family member who lives close to
\na public health clinic as he was suffering from a respiratory
\ninfection after swallowing so much mud and seawater.<\/p>\n
\"He will be much safer there,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Despite his suffering, he still wants to help other victims.<\/p>\n
Now, working as a hired driver for World Vision International
\n(WVI) -- a job that he took up on Dec. 30 -- he is assisting in
\nthe delivery of aid to victims, as well as taking staff members
\nto places and people that need their assistance.<\/p>\n
\"It was very difficult to get a rental car in Banda Aceh at
\nthat time. However, with God's help, there are always good people
\nwho are willing to help,\" WVI communications manager Hendro
\nSuwito told the Post from Banda Aceh by phone.<\/p>\n
After the disaster, Abdurrahman was sheltered by his former
\nemployer who owned a car, and he was asked to drive the car,
\nwhich was rented to the WVI.<\/p>\n
\"Working helps me forget my traumatic experience and
\nalleviates my grief, although I can still hear my children's
\ncries in my sleep,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/survivors-cope-with-loss-by-giving-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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