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.