Uncle and savior claim right to Fauzul or Fauzul caught between uncle and savior

Fauzul Kabir (photo above) clings to his uncle, Sofyan. This five-year old child has become the center of a dispute between Sofyan and his neighbor Saudah who found and saved him.

Fauzul's father Marzuki and mother Ayu, and his younger brother all disappeared with the tsunami, along with most of their neighbors at a village by the sea just west of Lhok Nga, Aceh.

After searching for the Marzuki family for days, Sofyan finally found Fauzul on Saturday at a refugee camp at Blang Bintang, Aceh Besar district. Sofyan could not hold back his tears when he held Fauzul and kept kissing him.

But the meeting lasted just for a few minutes as Saudah did not allow Sofyan to hold Fauzul any longer and took the boy back inside the camp.

She said no one cared enough about Fauzul when the tsunami struck. Fauzul and several other children in the village all cried for help but villagers were busy with themselves and their families, fleeing to higher ground.

"This boy cried for help and ran toward me and grabbed me, and I then took him to our boat," said Saudah, who herself lost her two children.

"I believe God Almighty has sent Fauzul to me as a replacement for my two lost children." -- JP/Andi Hajramurni