Remembering Aceh: Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia

By Barrie | December 25th, 2006 | No Comments

Two years ago the wall of death struck the north Sumatran coast and caused more devastation, loss of life and misery to a magnitude than any outsider could comprehend. It has been a long time and there is still a long way to go, and, there are still many homeless.

Two years after the ‘black wave’

The sounds of rebana (tambourines) and the voices of child survivors singing Aceh folk songs can be heard upon the strong ocean winds blowing through Meunasah Keudee, one of the villages worst-hit by the tsunami in Aceh Besar regency, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.

It is unfathomable that more than 168,000 people were killed and are missing in Aceh. The tsunami of Dec. 26, 2004 also destroyed an 800-kilometer stretch of the coastline as well as jobs, housing and infrastructure.

The two-year period has become a measurement for many parties to evaluate reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in Aceh.

The Acehnese measure these according to structural development. Many say that reconstruction, such as building housing for Aceh refugees, is moving slowly.

At present, about 70,000 people are still living in temporary shelters and are vulnerable to various illnesses, especially now that the rainy season has begun. Numerous other issues should be addressed, such as job creation and securing education.

While there may still be much to be done, the achievements in post-tsunami development in Aceh — as well as the gradual spread of peace after prolonged armed conflicts — stand testament to the hard work being done by local, national and international parties in the province.

– JP/Arief Suhardiman