Supported by the Salman Charity House, Grandmother Rusmini Keeps Fighting On, Accepts the Disaster with Resilience
Rusmini, 60, recalls clearly when her house stood firm in Air Tenang village, Karang Baru, Aceh Tamiang Regency. In that home she raised her children to adulthood. Four children, now with their own families, live nearby with 11 grandchildren who fill the yard.
However, the flash flood that swept through the area in November 2025 changed everything. The house that had stood for decades as a family gathering place was swept away, leaving only debris and a barren clearing.
When visited by volunteers from Rumah Amal Salman, Rusmini stood at the site of her former home. She did not voice many complaints. For her, losing the house is heavy, but the safety of her family is the priority.
‘House is a shelter, but this is a test. What matters is that we are all safe,’ she said calmly.
Since the disaster, Rusmini and her family stayed briefly in an emergency tent. But the heat made long stays there untenable. While awaiting aid, they used planks and other reusable materials to build a simple shack on the site of the former home.
The structure is far from adequate, but provides temporary shelter. Rusmini realises recovery will not be quick. Many other residents were affected and need similar help.
She also strives to keep the community atmosphere calm.
Patience
According to her, mutual support and patience are the first steps for life to gradually return. ‘We must be patient; if we still have strength, we can do useful things so we don’t sink too deep into sadness,’ she said softly.
Rusmini does not know when a permanent home can be rebuilt. But she chooses to focus on what can be done today: clearing the land, reorganising the remaining materials, and ensuring her children and grandchildren stay healthy.
On the same ground, where her house once stood, she begins again with simple steps. Not extravagant. She only hopes the situation gradually improves and her family can once more have a decent place to live.
For her, hope is not about something huge, but about the courage to endure and continue working even from the very start.
Clean water access
Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz, Programme Manager of Rumah Amal Salman in Bandung, said one of the most urgent needs at the site is access to clean water. To address this, Rumah Amal Salman, together with ITB Campus, built a clean water facility using a borehole at Musala An-Nur, and distributed it via HDPE pipes more than 2 kilometres long. Every 50 metres a hydrant is installed so the distribution is easier for residents to reach without queueing at the mosque.
‘Water is a priority because it’s a fundamental need. We focused it at the mosque so residents can collect water more easily near the evacuation site,’ Abdul Aziz said.
In addition, during Ramadan, residents of Air Tenang village also receive iftar packages, staples, and Eid parcels produced through a collaboration between Rumah Amal Salman and Paragon Corp. The aid helps ease daily needs for residents amid the recovery. The assistance was welcomed with enthusiasm by residents.
In the midst of constraints, the availability of iftar meals and essential goods is not merely material help but also a boost of encouragement that they are not alone.
The disaster recovery programme in Sumatra is also part of the Ramadan Memulihkan campaign being run by Rumah Amal Salman with partners. It is hoped the programmes will have long-term effects on the community.