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."