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Summary Updates
by Saiful Mahdi
I forgot to mention that yesterday, January 20th, I found the shelter
for the survivors of my village for the first time. We’d been looking
around but did not know where to find them, until I got a call from my
brother who had already been back to Jakarta with my surviving sister
and her family. He told me that he just saw Pak Abubakar, a former
community organizer of our village on Metro TV, Indonesia’s CNN-like
channel. Pak Abu was interviewed from where he and others from my
village were taking shelter, Gedung Sosial of Banda Aceh. My brother
eagerly asked me to find them and find out anything they know about our
missing siblings and family members.
I went there around noon to learn that they were under-supplied for
basic needs including underwear for men and women, cooking appliances,
prayer needs, eggs and other food to accompany rice. Without any delay,
I went to the command post and asked for a quick delivery of supplies
for them. While the post actually does not serve IDP camps, I was taking
the liberty to do so as I also put Aceh Relief Fund money into
purchasing supplies that the post had been delivering. By 2pm, a pick up
truck full of supplies were delivered to my village folks shelter (sorry
for not having photographed it).
Ok, back to 21 January:
This is Hari Raya or Eid Festival Day. Although we did not close our
post, the activity was much less than on previous days. We are among the
very few who stay open to deliver supplies if requested.
I started the day by joining the Eid prayer at 7:15am at a field close
to Kampung Ateuk, where I stayed with Dian’s (my wife) aunt for the last
two days.
Eid festival has never been this gloomy. You can feel the deep
sadness on people’s faces. Not as many smiles or laughter as on
previous Eids. Hundreds of thousands of Acehnese have to
celebrate the holiday in IDP camps. |
Usually, we would have many more people coming for Eid prayers.
This year, many survivors have gone back to their original
villages outside Banda Aceh. Seen in the picture are women in
their “teuleukom”, all-white prayer apparels. |
It is so comforting to find smiles, especially on young faces!
Children after Eid prayers. |
Then I went around and stopped by my wife’s folks in Kampung Ateuk,
Banda Aceh. Of course, the conversations were about family members,
missing and surviving ones. A lot of questions were asked about Dian and
our three children whom I had to leave in Ithaca
At around 11am, I went to the command post to meet our dedicated
volunteers. I thanked our volunteers who came from outside Banda Aceh
for celebrating Eid in Aceh, far away from their loved ones.
Some of our volunteers celebrating Eid at our command post. They
are my heroes and heroines! |
In the afternoon, I spent time at my village folks’ camp outside Gedung
Sosial. Some of them stayed in the camps as they have nowhere to visit
during this “visiting-relatives day”.
Pak Abubakar, the famous “cendol” vendor, taking charge of
organizing the IDP camp of my village folks of Blang Arafah, Al-Mukarramah
neighborhood of Punge Jurong outside Social Hall of Banda Aceh.
He lost all of his four children, leaving him only with his
wife. But his spirit is of a real pioneer and community
organizer. |
Pak Abu and I agreed to schedule a village meeting on January 25th when
we will discuss the condition of our village and the future. We agreed
to get organized and hopefully rise from a fallen community to a
stronger one in the future. Pak Abu will announce to all survivors of
Al-Mukarramah, including the ones who do not stay at the camp (but
regularly drop by to check for updates), that we will convene at the
camp to start planning our steps for the future. I will be facilitating
the meeting and trying to figure out how to connect my village to needed
resources.
Four girls from my village. They lost their homes, family
members and schools. Hopefully they will never let lose hope! |
Two women in our IDP camp. The one with white head-cover is Pak
Abu’s surviving wife. The kid is one of the children at the IDP
whose mother (in red dress) has no better place to take him. A
balloon is keeping him busy and happy, at least while the
picture was being taken. |
Two stoves and other supplies at Al-Mukarramah IDP camp,
delivered by PCC after Saiful’s request. His request was
fulfilled right away as PCC is also supported by the CNY-Aceh
Relief Fund. |
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