PEOPLE OF NIAS WORK HARD FOR THEIR FUTURE A YEAR AFTER
THE TSUNAMI AND EARTHQUAKE:
An Update from Lutheran World Relief and ACT-International
By Abdi R. Tarigan, ACT International
Gunung Sitoli, Nias, March 27, 2006--One year has passed since a powerful earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Nias, barely three months after the devastating December 2004 tsunami.
The needs of survivors are enormous, and while non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the Indonesian government, and others are working to meet these needs, the people of Nias who were affected by these two disasters are also working hard to create a better future.
Three members of the global alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) International in Indonesia -- Yayasan Tanggul Benkana Indonesia (YTBI), YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU) and Church World Service Indonesia (CWS) – are working with communities in Nias. Lutheran World Relief, a member of ACT, is supporting the relief efforts of these member agencies in rebuilding livelihoods, providing psychosocial support, education, shelter, water and sanitation, and healthcare.
Returning to work
“Now I have my own stall. Every day I sell the needs for daily life and fertilizer to farmers,” said 30-year-old Ina Rima Gulo. “I get some money to fulfill my daily needs from my daily selling.”
While feeding her newborn son, Rima said she did not have income for a long time, and lived on relief supplies from NGOs. But in January this year, an opportunity to become an entrepreneur finally presented itself. Rima opened her stall with the help of a $50 loan from a YTBI partner agency.
Rima lost both her parents and her twin sons when the earthquake and tsunami swept through her village. Only she and her husband survived. Now they live in a timber house, built with the help of the Baptist Church, and use part of the house as her stall. Rima’s husband supplies the stall from Gunung Sitoli, the capital of Nias, riding his motorcycle back and forth, a four- to five-hour drive.
“Selling also helps me not to linger too long at the loss of my family, and I can earn some money,” she said, adding that she is grateful for the loan she received to start her own business.
Mida Waruwu, 19.
Abdi R. Tarigan, ACT International
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Nineteen-year old Mida Waruwu has been jobless since the tsunami swept away her home. She often experiences flashbacks from the traumatic events. She is addressing both needs by participating in a sewing course organized by a YTBI partner, at which she and others can share their traumatic feelings and find hope for the future.
For four hours every afternoon, Mida attends the sewing course with 13 of her friends. The participants work on four sewing machines, guided by a volunteer instructor.
“I am very happy to have this sewing group here. If I can sew, at least I can sew my own clothes so I don’t have to buy any more. I believe that in the future I can earn money by sewing,” said Mida.
Waiting for the second harvest
On a recent evening, a group of farmers in the village of Lasarabagawu rested in a hut belonging to the Sejahtera Bersama (“collective prosperity”) farmer group, part of the CWS livelihood program.
“Our first yield was rather successful. We collected four tons [of rice]. From the profits, we contribute 10 percent to our farming group to help our group grow in the future. Now we are waiting for the second harvest,” said Ama T’ae, the group’s treasurer.
The tsunami destroyed many rice paddies. CWS has distributed seeds, a water pump and tools to assist the farmers, and also trained them on how to apply fertilizer and how to use a hand tractor.
Ama said that although the first harvest was a success, the farmers still hoped that the second harvest would be bigger.
“The production should have been more, but this happened because of a crop disease and the wet season. But we are happy with the yield because we have gotten some money when we sold our [rice] at the market,” added Ama.
Mobile again
Although 32-year-old Kartini is confined to a wheelchair, she appears at ease and smiles while moving around.
Abdi R. Tarigan, ACT International |
Although 32-year-old Kartini is confined to a wheelchair, she appears at ease and smiles while moving around.
“I am very thankful to the YEU medical staff. I was treated very well here,” she said at a YEU rehabilitation clinic. “I am able to move more and more and to use the wheelchair.”
Kartini was in her house when the earthquake struck, and tried to escape to save her life. In a moment of panic, she remembered that her youngest child was still in the house and ran back inside. Her house was too weak to stand the force of the quake, and a wall fell on her, fracturing her lower back and paralyzing both her legs. Her child escaped safely.
In January, she came to the YEU rehabilitation center in Gunung Sitoli, where she is one of nine patients undergoing rehabilitation.
"Our patients make handcrafts here to give them the opportunity to earn their living and show that they are still a meaningful member of society," said Jaimun, one of Kartini’s therapists.
WHO IS LWR? Lutheran World Relief, an international nonprofit organization, works to end poverty and injustice by empowering some of the world's most impoverished communities to help themselves. With partners in 35 countries, LWR seeks to promote sustainable development with justice and dignity by helping communities bring about change for healthy, safe and secure lives; engage in Fair Trade; promote peace and reconciliation; and respond to emergencies. LWR is headquartered in Baltimore, Md. and has worked in international development and relief since 1945.
Lutheran World Relief is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), individuals and parish groups in international relief, development, advocacy and social responsibility.
For more information contact Emily Sollie at esollie@lwr.org or 410-230-2802.
