As
dawn breaks and while other are still curled up lazily in their
beds, the fishermen of Banda Aceh are sorting out their catch
from a night of hard work at sea.
“This is our life, up at night, barely resting at day,”
says fisherman Usman as he wades through his harvest of deep
sea fish, hauling them into large plastic containers.
Usman, 52, says he doesn’t mind the long hours of fishing.
“This is the only thing I’ve done since I was 12
years old.”
For almost all of Usman’s life the sea has been a reliable
provider of sustenance and income. It has helped him to support
his family, and he has come to know it well. But on 26 December
2004, his benevolent friend turned violent, sending a great
tsunami crashing into his city, snatching away his wife and
destroying his boat.
Like countless thousands throughout devastated Banda Aceh, Usman
is today trying to pick up the pieces. Thanks to the livelihood
programme of the Francophone branch of the Belgian Red Cross
he now has a new boat.
“I all but lost hope after the tsunami. I was worried
about my three children. How to feed them, send them to school…how
to start life again,” he recalls. “I am glad the
Red Cross is here to help us. Now we can start a new life.”
The Belgian Red Cross programme aims to support the rehabilitation
and expansion of the fishing industry in Banda Aceh and will
help fishermen rebuild 17 large fishing vessels. The fishermen
are pleased with the scheme, as they have a stake in ownership
of the boats and have freedom to run their business as they
see fit. “We hope to earn more from this new concept because
it is a group effort managed by ourselves. We’ll do our
best to make it work,” says Usman.
The Belgian Red Cross is one of many Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies providing livelihood assistance for survivors of the
tsunami in Aceh.
In Ajun Lamhasan village in Banda Aceh, Nuraini carefully folds
the dress she has made for her neighbour, earning Rupiah 70,000
(about USD7) in the process.
“Dressmaking is a good business. It helps me and my family
very much,” says Nuraini who makes about Rupiah one million
(USD100) each month through her new business. She opened her
dress shop three months ago, with support from the cash grant
programme of the British Red Cross and the Indonesian Red Cross
(Palang Merah Indonesia – PMI).
In the heavily-affected west coast districts of Aceh Jaya and
Aceh Barat, the Indonesian Red Cross (Palang Merah Indonesia
– PMI) and the Spanish Red Cross have supported more than
3,400 tsunami-affected families to rebuild their agricultural
based livelihoods.
In Teunom, the Danish and British Red Cross Societies have just
completed a cash grant programme for 2,768 families. Another
944 families will be provided with cash grant over the coming
months.
The American Red Cross has completed two phases of their cash-for-
work programme in Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar. Working in partnership
with PMI, the Swiss Red Cross, the Netherlands Red Cross, UN
Habitat, local government offices and the residents of Punge
Jurong village in Banda Aceh, the second phase of this cash-for-work
initiative has seen the American Red Cross target 300 individuals,
with indirect benefit expected to reach more than 5,000 people.
Cash-for-work activities included debris clearing, land levelling
and rehabilitation of small roads and drainage in preparation
for the reconstruction of houses and other infrastructures.
The American Red Cross has also supported the reconstruction
or rehabilitation of several markets in Banda Aceh, Aceh Besar,
Aceh Jaya and Pidie districts, helping many people to return
to business.
Eslewhere in Aceh province Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
from France, Malaysia, Norway and Australia have been working
with communities to help them rebuild local industries and sources
of income.
Says Bob McKerrow, Federation Head of the Country Delegation,
“Helping save lives and improve lives is at the heart
of the Red Cross/Red Crescent. We will always strive to shine
the light of hope brightly … helping steer people’s
lives back to normalcy with dignity and humanitarian compassion.”
|
 |
 |
|
|
Like
countless thousands throughout devastated Banda Aceh,
Usman is today trying to pick up the pieces. Thanks to
the livelihood programme of the Francophone branch of
the Belgian Red Cross he now has a new boat. (p15213)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
“Dressmaking
is a good business. It helps me and my family very much,”
says Nuraini. She opened her dress shop three months ago,
with support from the cash grant programme of the British
Red Cross and the Indonesian Red Cross (Palang Merah Indonesia
– PMI). (p15216)
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Cash-for-work
activities included debris clearing, land levelling and
rehabilitation of small roads and drainage in preparation
for the reconstruction of houses and other infrastructures.
(p15219)
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Tsunami
survivors in Aceh steer lives back to normalcy with the
livelihood support provided by the Red Cross/Red Crescent
Movement working with the Indonesian Red Cross (Palang
Merah Indonesia-PMI)(p15220) |
|
News
