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| Tsunami Recovery in Indonesia Reveals Resilient Human Spirit | |||||||||||||
by Michelle Scott The ornate handle shaped like an elephant's trunk stood out among the debris scattered around Banda Aceh. It looked like it broke off of a pottery vase or pitcher. In comparison to the other items in the rubble, a visitor could tell that this once belonged to something special. The handle caught the eye of an UMCOR official visiting Indonesia in April. She reflected how this piece of pottery echoes what the tsunami did in many areas: it took something beautiful and cherished, and left brokenness. The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is working to mend that brokenness. Planned operations in Indonesia just received a boost from the Indonesian government by registering UMCOR with their top rating for non-governmental organizations. This will pave the way for UMCOR’s future work in Indonesia. That work can happen because with the unprecedented donations totaling $32.4 million for tsunami recovery, UMCOR is funding work in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Thailand, and India. UMCOR workers are restoring entire communities by supplying new nets and boats, beginning construction of new homes and cleaning wells polluted by saltwater that flooded inland in the Dec. 26, 2004, tsunami that caused catastrophic loss of life and damage to countries on all sides of the Indian Ocean. Recovery occurs not only at a community level, but on a personal one as well. In Banda Aceh, Indonesia, a young woman is turning tragedy into hope for displaced children. Deepa was visiting friends near the coast the day she was swept away by the tsunami. The waves left her stranded alone on a rooftop for more than eight hours before being rescued. For as far as she could see there was only death and destruction. She was the only living person in the area, until the rescuers came. Today, Deepa is using her experience to contribute to the recovery efforts by working as a trauma counselor with displaced children living in camps. Through her experience meeting people like Deepa and seeing recovery efforts at work in Indonesia and India, the Rev. Kristin L. Sachen, UMCOR executive, commented, “There is a kind of normalcy that reflects recovery efforts and the human capacity to adjust.” Much of this return to normalcy has to do with the generosity of thousands who donated to recovery efforts. UMCOR has committed to a four-pronged, $10 million approach to recovery efforts in Indonesia. Working alongside the Methodist Church in Indonesia, UMCOR identified some 1,000 families in Sumatra Province to receive initial benefits for new homes, safe water and sanitation facilities as well as income generation opportunities. The agency has joined with Church World Service (CWS) for two recovery projects one extending through 2008 and another contributing to CWS health services. The fourth prong includes working with the International Blue Crescent (IBC) in Indonesia to build permanent and temporary housing in the Lamno and Aceh provinces of Sumatra. UMCOR worked with IBC following earthquakes in Turkey and in Iran. UMCOR officials expect to participate in tsunami recovery for years to come. While the operating rules established by many other relief agencies compel them to spend all the funds within a predetermined timeframe, UMCOR has no such restrictions. The generosity of donors for tsunami recovery gives UMCOR the freedom and flexibility to serve as long as necessary. Michelle Scott is a communications specialist for the United Methodist Committee on Relief.
Date posted: May 11, 2005 |
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