Tsunami survivors prepare to mark a modest Ramadhan

Tsunami survivors prepare to mark a modest Ramadhan

Nani Afrida, The Jakarta, Post Banda Aceh

The fasting month of Ramadhan, which begins on Wednesday, means
more work for Jauhari. The 45-year-old widow survived the tsunami
and now earns a living shelling cockles.

"I hope to save some money. All of the people displaced by the
tsunami are still not receiving promised assistance to cover our
living expenses," the resident of Gano village, Kuta Alam
district, Banda Aceh, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Instead of living in a shelter for displaced people, Jauhari
prefers living in a hut built from wooden planks left behind the
tsunami, which she shares with her five children and in-laws.

While most Indonesians are making preparations to greet
Ramadhan, Jauhari and her family have no special plans for the
month.

All of the woman's belongings were swept away by the waves.
All that matters to her now is making enough money each to buy
food for her family during the fasting month, when food prices
traditionally rise.

Jauhari did not take part in the Acehnese tradition of
meugang, or buying meat ahead of Ramadhan. The meat is then
preserved by hanging it out to dry before it is cooked and eaten
as a side dish during the fasting month.

"The price of meat is very high. We cannot afford it," said
Jauhari. "Besides, who would eat it? Our family is no longer
complete."

A kilogram of beef in local markets costs between Rp 60,000
and Rp 70,000.

Jauhari never imagined she would observe the fasting month of
Ramadhan in a hut with her surviving family. She struggles daily
to carry on living, with no money and no house.

The government earlier pledged to provide each tsunami
survivor with Rp 90,000 for their living costs, but so far has
failed to deliver the money.

"They say the money has yet to be distributed by the district
office," said a displaced person from Cadek in Baitussalam
district, Banda Aceh.

The Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Agency for Aceh and
Nias, plus a number of non-governmental organizations, recently
donated hundreds of heads of cattle to help displaced people
continue the meugang tradition.

The donated cattle should be enough for at least 500,000
displaced persons, which will help brighten the fasting month for
some tsunami survivors.

Many of the displaced people, however, fear that they will
have to rely on food aid, including rice, cooking oil and instant
noodles, throughout Ramadhan.

"There used to be a cash-for-work program where we got paid
every time we worked to clean up a village. But that program
ended and now we do not know where to find work," said another
displaced person, Abdullah, 44.

He hoped the situation would not prevent people from fasting.
"We hope we can perform our religious duties despite having been
affected by the tsunami tragedy."