Maya, reporter turns volunteer

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.