Tsunami survivors face test of will in makeshift shelters

Tsunami survivors face test of will in makeshift shelters

Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Aceh

Under the scorching sun, Zuraida and her three children struggled to get close to the boxes of secondhand clothes being dropped off by a long-haired relief worker from a pick-up truck. After vying with dozens of other aid-hungry Acehnese, she managed to pull out some items of clothing.

"It's a normal thing here. We run quickly whenever a truck comes and we compete with the other refugees. If we're not fast, we are left with the worst clothes. Or, we get nothing at all," Zuraida said in front of the tent that she shares with eight other families, who drifted together at a Lampeuneurut camp all the way from Lambaro Cie village in Peukan Bada district.

Fortunately, she said, they did not have to go through pushing and stepping over one another to get their ration of food provided by the government, aid agencies or volunteers. Usually the food aid is packed in equal portions and handed out by the so-named camp coordinator.

"Umm, it's not that we're ungrateful, but we've been eating only rice and instant noodles. We had vegetables or eggs for the first few days, but not again for two weeks. It's not that we're not thankful to be alive, but we're also kind of fed up with the food and living in this overcrowded tent," said the veiled woman, whose words were met by the approval of two other women in the tent.

On the other side of the army-green tent, several men gathered to smoke cigarettes, while a couple of others were taking what seemed to be a long-awaited nap on thin mats.

"So that we can have a more varied diet and start saving a little, my husband works for an informal organization cleaning up the dirt and mud on the streets. He gets some Rp 30,000 (some US$3.22) each day. Not much, but at least we're earning something while we're here," said Zuraida as she helped her son put on his socks.

An hour's drive away, Ibu Habibi was seen cooking for her five children inside a tent that she shares with 16 people in the TVRI Banda Aceh compound in Ketapang.

"We do get other side dishes like fish and eggs, but we must get ahead of the other refugees if we want to have them in our tent. Otherwise, its just rice and noodles for us," she said while grinding chilies.

Her husband said he and his sons would run toward the food post when distribution time was announced to grab as many food items as possible.

Her husband, Mahmud, said they could survive no more than six months in conditions such as these.

But his wife was of another opinion. "Three months and that's it. I can't stay here any longer than that."

Zuraida and Ibu Habibi are two out of more than 350,000 survivors trying to pass the days in shelters scattered across the tsunami-battered Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.

While their living conditions are far from ideal, they are optimistic and put on a brave public face.

"Well, we can't cry all the time. Let it be a thing of the past. It (the disaster) was not something that humans created. In fact, this time is much better than the last two times -- during the imposition of martial law and the big flood some years ago," said Ibu Habibi.

Surviving parents are also keen on putting their children in temporary schools in the hope that the future will be brighter for their offspring.

"At least we can relax knowing that our kids are here learning the Koran instead of just playing," said Muharni, 26, while taking her son to get a uniform.

Another refugee, 39-year-old Hapsah, said that ever since her first night in the military complex in Mata Ie area -- where dozens of pictures of missing people are stuck on the walls -- she has taken each day as it comes.

"I'm sure we'll get by and things will get better. But how we'll do that, I don't really know. It's good we still have food and we are alive. We can even get medical treatment for free. But I bet no one wants to stay here forever.

The breathtaking panorama of the lush, green Barisan ranges is a stark contrast to the poor condition of the shelter with its muddy and littered paths.

Hapsah also hopes she can move somewhere else soon, and get on with her life.

"I don't have anything left to build a house with, or a new business, but we'll figure things out. We're strong Acehnese, you know. We've survived a lot of tragedies," she said.