Despite the early hour, a barrack still housing 80 internally displaced people (IDPs) in Reusak village was full of activity on a recent morning. Sudiman and Ida, who survived the tsunami, have returned to their previous jobs. In the earthquake and ensuing tsunami on December 26, 2004, their two children were killed, all their possessions were destroyed, and their jobs were lost. They’ve remained in the barracks because they were afraid of another tsunami.
In March, Sudiman, 40, returned to work as a fish vendor. His wife, Ida, 27, resumed her embroidery activities the month before. They were able to return to their work with assistance from the livelihood-recovery program of Yayasan Tanggul Bencana Indonesia (YTBI), a member of the global church aid alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT) International in Indonesia. Lutheran World Relief, also a member of ACT, is supporting ACT’s tsunami recovery projects.
"We are working for our future now. I got back my job as a fish vendor, and my wife returned to work as an embroiderer since YTBI provided us with the capital to start our jobs," said Sudiman on the cool morning at the barracks.
Sudiman usually rises early, taking his fish bucket with him on his motorcycle to Meulaboh, where he buys fish to re-sell. "I make money by selling fish in Samatiga sub-district. I go in the morning and return in the afternoon. I get some profit to fulfill our daily needs. My wife also helps our household financially by producing embroidered goods. When she sells them, she also receives some money," he explained.
"I can finish one embroidery product, like an umbrella, in one week. YTBI helps us to sell it to Banda Aceh. The price is 300,000 Rupiah [US$33]. This is enough to fulfill our needs for one week. Besides getting some money, selling also helps me not to linger on too long on the loss of my two children," said Ida while displaying her handiwork.
From YTBI's livelihood program, Ida also received a sewing machine and other supplies for her embroidery work. Ida said she enjoys embroidery, which she can do with other women in the barracks. During their work, the women socialize and can share their ups and downs.
When the tsunami hit their hometown, Ida and Sudiman tried to escape. But they and their motorcycle were swept up in the waves, which traveled as far as five kilometers inland.
At the barracks, Ida received medical treatment from YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU), another ACT member in Indonesia. Staff from a YEU mobile clinic visited her regularly for three months until she regained her health.
Although they were receiving sufficient food and medicine, Ida and Sudiman were yearning to return to work and did not want depend on assistance from aid organizations. They wanted to be self-determined and earn their own money again.
Sudiman was equally eager to return to work. He discussed his situation with some friends in the barracks. Together they approached YTBI's field officer to form a group of fish vendors. They named their group "Bacut-bacut," which means "little by little."
After running this business for three months, Sudiman has saved some of his earnings in a local bank because he and Ida plan to go back to their home village. But before they go, they have two considerations.
First, Ida is pregnant. "I am still waiting for my wife to bear our child here. It is difficult to get a doctor or midwife in our village. It's easier to get medical service here because YEU regularly visits and gives us free medical treatment in our barrack," said Sudiman. When the baby is born, the couple will also have a newly completed house, which is under construction now by another relief agency.
In the past 18 months, the family has experienced so much. But little by little, they are putting the parts of their lives back together and working toward their future.
Submitted by Abdi R. Tarigan, ACT
Abdi R. Tarigan is on the resources staff of the Action by Churches Together (ACT) International coordinating office in Medan, Indonesia. ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide .
