Fauzul caught between uncle and savior

Fauzul caught between uncle and savior

Fauzul Kabir clings to his uncle, Sofyan. This
five-year old child has become the center of a dispute between
Sofyan and his neighbor Saudah who found and saved him.

Fauzul's father Marzuki and mother Ayu, and his younger
brother all disappeared with the tsunami, along with most of
their neighbors at a village by the sea just west of Lhok Nga,
Aceh.

After searching for the Marzuki family for days, Sofyan
finally found Fauzul on Saturday at a refugee camp at Blang
Bintang, Aceh Besar district. Sofyan could not hold back his
tears when he held Fauzul and kept kissing him.

But the meeting lasted just for a few minutes as Saudah did
not allow Sofyan to hold Fauzul any longer and took the boy back
inside the camp.

She said no one cared enough about Fauzul when the tsunami
struck. Fauzul and several other children in the village all
cried for help but villagers were busy with themselves and their
families, fleeing to higher ground.

"This boy cried for help and ran toward me and grabbed me, and
I then took him to our boat," said Saudah, who herself lost her
two children.

"I believe God Almighty has sent Fauzul to me as a
replacement for my two lost children." -- JP/Andi Hajramurni