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From destruction to reconstruction – life continues in Meulaboh, Indonesia
(page 2)

Photos by Petteri Kokkonen, ACT International/FinnChurchAid

  
   
 
  Man and child at the fishing market
  

Many villages and towns on the west coast of Sumatra, like Meulaboh, depend on fishing. However, many residents of these fishing communities died in the tsunami. Despite their traumatic experiences, most fishermen want to continue the work they know best — fishing.

  
     
  Following the tsunami, the number of fish sellers at Meulaboh's market fell to one-third of what it used to be. Little by little, the marketplace is recovering and becoming more lively. The new well built by NCA/CWS makes the work of fishermen easier, because now fish can be treated in a more hygienic way.  
         
  Man clearing rubble with a mallet
The work of clearing the rubble will continue for a long time in Meulaboh. Much of the work is done manually. 		 

Children sitting on a piece of debris
The human losses of the tsunami are so huge that they are beyond comprehension. Those who survived the tsunami need a lot of support so they can get hold of their lives again.

According to recent figures, the tsunami killed almost 170,000 people in Indonesia alone.

 
         
  Gasoline in bottles
In Meulaboh, gasoline is sold in bottles in the street stalls. 		  Not all of the victims have been found. Many survivors, if they escaped with their lives, ended up losing their homes. More than 400,000 people are now living in temporary tents or barracks. [Read more]   Marked and unmarked graves  
         
 

ACT member YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU) has mobile medical clinics working in towns and villages in Aceh.

In the village of Padang Panyang in Nagan Raya district, more than 3,000 displaced people are living in barracks. Although the concentration of people in the barracks is very high, there have not been outbreaks of diarrhea or malaria. [Read more]

So much was lost in the tsunami, and reminders of the everyday lives so many people led are scattered about. Here a woman finds a comb in the mud.

  

Yahman with Dr. Lidwina Tarigan

Woman picking up an item from the mud

  
     
  People are somehow managing to cope with life after the tsunami, but it will be a long time before many can call life normal. The reconstruction and rebuilding will take many years.
   Men on collapsed roof  
         
 

Despite all, life continues. Now it is time to rebuild. We have to look toward the future.

 

Return to page one of Meulaboh photo essay

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   Photo of friends  
             
  Text by Riitta Saarinen, Action by Churches Together (ACT) International/FinnChurchAid  
     
 
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