Aceh post tsunami cannot be solved within months. The city of Banda Aceh is cleaner, electricity availability up to 50-60%. Some government offices are already running. Hospitals as well. University is starting to operate, but not yet back to normal. In Banda Aceh itself, 140 lecturers have been taken by the tsunami. Refugee camps have changed into better shaped camps with wooden floor, but still the toilet system is terrible everywhere in government sponsored or NGO controlled camps.
Instead of just receiving free of charge logistic, rice, cooking oil, clean water, some Acehnese like the head of Dusun Cot Riwat wanted to help his people by giving them tools or equipment so they can restart their lives by their own effort with dignity.
‘Give my villagers 15 fishing boats including engines and fishing nets. They will start catching fish and sell it. Then they will be able to rebuild their own house’.
The other day he said, ‘I’m not an ungrateful person. I’m thankful to all the donors who helped my people in this suffering time. But giving too much will create lazy and dependant people, with no self respect. I like the small program like economic recovery the bakery girls get. Now the whole village respect them. They work hard and manage well their home industry. Our village got a good name DURUENG bakery. We are proud of them’.
Water and sanitation facilities are still the number one priority in every camp. TFC team together with local people of DURUENG can make more TFCs and toilets for other villages. Strong logistics are needed to support the team with adequate materials.
If we ask the villagers what they really need now, many said : MEONASAH (small prayer room). Permanent school is also high priority.
The second is jobs. Men need fishing boats. Women need some kind of work that can be done in their houses. This makes it possible to look after children and still have income.
Their lives changed in one day. They lost everything. If we are going to help them like Pa Samidan (head of dusun Cot Riwat), give them tools or something to continue their lives …with dignity.
