INDONESIA: INTERVIEW WITH VILLAGE CHIEF WHO LOST WHOLE FAMILY IN TSUNAMI DISASTER.

Record ID: 860831

  • Title: INDONESIA: INTERVIEW WITH VILLAGE CHIEF WHO LOST WHOLE FAMILY IN TSUNAMI DISASTER.
  • Date: 21st January 2005
  • Summary: DESICCATED LEG OF OLD MAN WHO DIED HUNGER DEAD BODIES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WAITING TO BE COLLECTED
  • Embargoed: 5th February 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LAM TEUNGOH, ACEH, INDONESIA
  • City:
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics: Disasters,Environment,General
  • Reuters ID: LVA5D8QOBY3P7SU9OKUCOWRKODFN
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Indonesian village chief who lost his whole family to the tsunami tells his heart wrenching tale.
    Fifty-three-year-old Baharuddin, fisherman and chief of the Lam Teungoh village on the outskirts of Banda Aceh is the only person left of his family of seven who were taken away by the devastating tsunami on December 26.
    In his village, most of the houses, roads and palm trees were shattered by a strong earthquake followed by the tsunami soon after.
    Three weeks on, bodies still remain in the rubble on the side of the road where starved stray dogs eat them.
    "When I arrived at the hills, I saw my daughter. She was sitting there and she asked me, father am I dreaming? And I answered, my child this is what has happened your mother and brother have died. Everyone was hit by the wave and they died and now there are only the two of us left," said Baharuddin.
    "Then I carried her near the coconut tree and she asked me for coconut water. She then stared at my face hugged me and died. I screamed hysterically because my beloved daughter who had survived was suddenly called by Allah. I surrendered and I took this ring as a memoir. I buried her in a curtain that was left and I covered her with coconut leaves and said good-bye to my child. I am all alone in this world, who will take care of me?"
    Help has been slow to come to this village and the first assistance came from the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels who brought them food and took the injured to hospital.
    "In the middle of the night, a group of people came--but we didn't know who they were but then they introduced themselves as GAM rebels . They brought food and rice and they helped us on the second day. They evacuated us from Lam Teungoh to the city. Then on the third day, they also evacuated a seriously injured woman. They took turns carrying the injured person and took her to the doctor," said Baharuddin.
    Baharuddin and a few survivors of his village are gradually starting to rebuild their lives starting with the fishing boats which they depended on for their livelihood.
    Everyday, Baharuddin and the villagers sift through beneath the rubble trying to salvage fishing boat engines and other parts which could be used to repair boats or to build a new one.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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