Maya, reporter turns volunteer

Andi Hajramurni, Contributor, Banda Aceh

There was not the slightest trace of fear or repugnance on the face of Mismayal Khaerat, 31, a reporter and a member of one of the Search-and-Rescue (SAR) teams from South Sulawesi, when she pulled out corpses from the ruins left by the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck Aceh province on Dec. 26.

The bodies produced an appalling stench as they had lain trapped under the ruins of buildings or in the mud for over a month.

Informally addressed simply as Maya, she is the only female member of a 30-strong team assigned by the South Sulawesi command post to evacuate the dead. She may also be the only women among hundreds of volunteers specially assigned for that task.

"I felt sad when I saw dead bodies lying around because they were not in the proper place. I wanted to evacuate them all and bury them," said Maya, who was born in Makassar on November 7, 1974.

Immediately after she arrived in Banda Aceh on Jan. 7, Maya and her team went into the ruins of buildings and very often had to wade in knee-high muddy water to remove bodies.

She agreed that extra energy and caution were needed for this job, given the difficult positions in which the bodies were located. Generally, they were crushed under debris or submerged in mud. They had to remove the debris first before removing the bodies. Despite the difficulties, Maya feels even more challenged and has never complained.

The inadequate safety equipment provided to her team did not deter her. While at work retrieving bodies, she only wears gloves, a mask and a pair of boots.

Owing to the limited stock, she has never worn a protective overcoat, headgear or special safety glasses, all standard issue for those retrieving bodies.

A graduate of the school of mathematics and natural sciences of Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Maya, however, has never felt hampered by the lack of safety equipment.

"Of course, there is are standard safety procedures to comply with when you evacuate dead bodies, especially when the victims have been dead for several days. However, if we waited until we could fully comply with these procedures, when would the bodies be removed?" she said.

To prevent contamination by bacteria, Maya always bathes with antiseptic after a day's work. She also makes sure she has enough rest and food to keep herself in good shape.

For her, the best protection is good intentions and a strong conviction.

To her way of thinking, if these dead bodies are simply left where they are, they will pose a greater danger to the living.

"I just leave everything to God as I'm sure He will always protect us if we have good intentions to help our fellow human beings.

"Besides, if the bodies are left lying in the open air, they may cause diseases that will endanger the living," said Maya.

In her SAR team, Maya is not only assigned to retrieve the dead, but also to do some administrative work. She has to take note of the number of bodies already evacuated, their gender and identity, if any. She has to document the team's activities and take care of the equipment or supplies needed by team members.

Before joining the SAR team, Maya said she was afraid to look at a dead body, let alone touch one. However, now that she is a SAR team member, she no longer has this feeling. Instead, she has pity for the deceased and tries to retrieve them as quickly as possible.

Maya joined a SAR team in 1995, while she was still a university student. She took part in student SAR activities at university.

She is still active in the SAR team although she has graduated. In 2000, along with some of her seniors at the university SAR team, she set up SAR Sulawesi that conducted activities covering Sulawesi island and surrounding areas.

The SAR organization is financed by its members.

Before being actively involved in SAR activities, Maya was an active member of the scout movement and a nature lover. She has climbed virtually all the mountains of South Sulawesi.

She has also been into a number of caves and dived in the waters around the Makassar straits. "In my childhood, I always dreamed of being able to climb mountains, explore caves and dive into the sea. Now I have done all of that," she said.

Nevertheless, Maya is far from satisfied. Her adventurous spirit continues to push her in search of her true identity. That was why she decided to join the SAR team as this posed a different kind of challenge. In this team, she not only pursues her hobby, but also carries out a humanitarian mission, helping those who have survived a disaster or an accident and evacuating the dead.

This mission drove Maya to join the SAR team. Every time she and her team carry out an operation successfully, she feels satisfaction and, at the same time, a stronger concern for her fellow human beings.

"I feel my life will be meaningful if I can help others, although I can only rely on my own energy. That is the best I can do now," she noted.

Because of her feeling of empathy and her strong desire to evacuate a large number of bodies from Banda Aceh and other places hit by the natural disaster, Maya has temporarily relinquished her job as a reporter at Makassar TV, a local TV station in Makassar.

For her, working as a volunteer, especially one assigned to retrieve the dead, is far more important than anything else.