Trauma slowly slips from memory of Acehnese children
Trauma slowly slips from memory of Acehnese children
Nani Afrida
The Jakarta Post
Banda Aceh
Trauma suffered by tsunami survivors has slowly slipped from
memory of most children, but orphans keep their traumatic
experience longer.
"I'm not traumatized. Only sometimes my memory returns," said
15-year-old Meutia.
"If I feel afraid, I will pray to Allah," said Farida, also
15.
"I still have my fear, especially because I have lost my
parents," said Irwan, 16.
"Sometimes my fear comes, especially when there is an
earthquake," said nine-year old Bayu.
Those were the comments made by several Acehnese children when
asked whether they were still traumatized about the earthquake
and the subsequent killer tsunami that hit their province.
Some felt afraid while others said their fear only returned
when they thought about the major natural disaster.
Most children often do not show that their memory of the
tsunami disaster remains fresh in their minds. Adults will
mistakenly believe that their memory of the disaster, that
claimed so many lives, has slipped into oblivion. Every day,
these children play as normal children do, either at schools or
at refugee camps. Rarely do they look gloomy or sad.
The tsunami hit Aceh almost seven months ago but these
children can still recount what happened when the disaster
struck. Of course, their stories now are not as detailed as
before.
However, children who lost their parents in this natural
calamity usually keep their traumatic experiences longer than
other kids. They find it hard to forget a disaster that has
claimed the lives of their beloved parents.
Take Wulan, an 11-year-old girl, as an example. Wounded, she
was saved from the claws of death when the tsunami struck her
house. However, even today she is still mentally shocked as she
witnessed how her parents disappeared, dragged into the sea by
the killer tidal wave.
Often, when an after-quake occurred, she would became
hysterical and frightened. Recently, her condition has slowly
returned to normal. She is gripped by fear only when night comes.
"I feel terrified, especially when I'm alone," she told The
Jakarta Post.
In Indonesia, at least 30 percent of the estimated 100,000 to
300,000 Acehnese children who were orphaned or separated from
their parents or other family members in Aceh, are suffering from
severe trauma. Most of the Aceh children, traumatized by the
catastrophe, lost both parents as well as other family members
and are aged between four and 10, according to the National
Commission on Child Protection.
In Gue Gajah TVRI refugee camp in Aceh Besar, you can find 95
orphans. They stay there with their close relatives or their
former neighbors.
Shortly after the tsunami struck the region, many non-
governmental organizations (NGOs) set up children centers in
Aceh. Today, only a few are still operational. The NGO "Plan" is
one NGO whose children's centers are still active.
This NGO accommodates some 2,000 child tsunami victims. The
organization set up a center for playing and learning in the area
of Benteng Indrapatra, Krueng Raya, Aceh Besar.
"We are sure that the effects of their traumatic experiences
has reduced," said Paulan of Plan. She said that she now rarely
saw children daydreaming, frightened or keeping themselves in
seclusion.
These children have changed a lot for the better, she added.
"Earlier, the kids would all draw the pictures of the tsunami
when they took part in a drawing contest. They would draw
capsized vessels, destroyed houses and the like. Now, many of
them will draw flowers or scenery," said Paulan.
She was sure that these children would be liberated from their
trauma and fear if they were often asked to play and have fun.
"If they are left alone, of course their trauma and fear will
remain with them," she added.
While Plan concentrates its efforts to reduce the trauma and
sorrow of these unfortunate children by encouraging them to learn
and play, the Titi Budaya Foundation, in cooperation with UNESCO,
is employing a cultural approach for the same purpose.
Last May, in the first stage of their efforts to help these
Acehnese kids, they taught children to dance folk dances and sing
traditional songs.
Toni Rudiansyah of the Titi Budaya foundation said that it
would be easier to heal these children from their trauma with a
cultural therapy than with a verbal approach.
"If they sing and dance, they find it easier to forget their
trauma," he added.