Nahasu,
61 and Fauluaro, 75, close friends for more than 30 years, used
to be neighbours in Hinako village, on a tiny island west of
Nias, off the Sumatran coast. When the earthquake measuring
8.7 on the Richter scale rocked Nias and their tiny island on
March 28, 2005, Nahasu and Fauluaro were among the families
in the village whose houses were destroyed, forcing them to
stay temporarily in tents at separate villages in Sirombu, a
sub-district of Nias.
They are among the first group of families in Hinako and other
earthquake devastated areas in Nias who received new shelters
with the assistance of the Australian Red Cross (ARC) in a hillside
village in Sirombu.
Nahasu and Fauluaro, cleaning their front yard, were visibly
proud to show off their duplex-style house.
“This is the best gift we have received since the tragedy
struck us,” say Nahasu and Fauluaro almost simultaneously.
“We are thankful Fauluaro and I are just a wall apart.
We are much closer now than when we were back in Hinako,”
Nahasu continues as he makes coffee.
The one-storey white concrete houses measure 68.6 sq. meters,
and contain a living room, two bedrooms, a kitchen, toilet,
a laundry, and extra space at the back for a small garden or
extension in the future.
So far, the ARC has completed seven duplexes – 14 houses.
A total of 116 duplexes or 232 more units are now in various
stages of construction on an almost 50,000 square meter lot
in Sirombu. The construction is lead by ARC’s partner
agency in the project, the Zero to One Foundation.
Australian Red Cross said the housing project is funded by donations
from the people of Australia. ARC is doing its best to finish
as many houses as possible before the rainy season. So far,
three families have moved in, and more are expected to do so
in the next few days.
Over glass of coffee, Nahasu continues to tell his story, “I
lost my house I built as a gift to my family. But worse, I lost
my beloved wife that made that house a home”.
“If only my wife were still alive, we could have started
a new life here. Nahasu tries to hold back his tears. "We
had been looking forward to our 30th wedding anniversary on
August 14. All our plans are now gone with her.” Finally,
the tears flow. Nahasu takes a picture of his wife and only
grandson off the wall, and holds it close to his chest.
“I could still hear her scream, trapped in our bedroom
on the second floor of our house. I hate myself for not being
able to help as things happened so fast. I could not reach her
because of the collapsed wall blocking my way,” Nahasu
stares affectionately at his wife’s photo and kisses it
gently.
A retired teacher who has five grown up children all living
on their own, Nahasu says he prefers to stay alone, away from
Hinako to try to “forget” the tragic memories of
the disaster.
“I want to remember our life the way it used to be, full
of love and simple joys. I want to see her sweet smiling face
and caring look all over this room. This house will be a new
home for the two of us. In my heart and in my mind, my wife
will always be alive.” Later, Nahasu walks outside to
the modest garden he has started in front of his house. “My
wife loved gardening. All the flowers here are for her.”
Fauluaro is lucky. No one died in the family, but he lost all
his three houses.
“It’s ok,” he says. “We can always rebuild
houses, but not human life. I thank God my family -my two sons,
five daughters and one grandson - are all alive and well.”
Fauluaro, who lives with his wife and only grandson in the new
house, walks towards Nahasu and puts his arms around his shoulder.
“I sympathize with what happened to my friend Nahasu.
But my wife and I will always be here for him. We can start
a new home, a new life in this village.”
Tandoziduho and Adizawarunu, a couple with eight children whose
house in Testua village, also in Sirombu, was also destroyed
by the earthquake, says they are happy with their new house
and thankful to the Red Cross for providing them a comfortable
shelter.
“We cannot ask for more. This house is just enough for
us. Eventually, we can improve it some more and, perhaps, put
an extension at the back for our growing children,” says
Adizawarunu smiling as she breastfeeds her youngest daughter.
Adizawarunu continues, “But more than a comfortable house,
what’s important is that we have very good neighbors.
Nahasu and Faularu are both fond of my children who call them
“kakek” (grandfather). We feel safe here.”
“We miss our poultry yard, though,” says Tandozidoho.
“We don’t have enough space here to raise poultry
so I have to go back to farming and do whatever job is available
to feed my family,” Tandozidoho adds, sipping his coffee.
At this point, Fauluaro’s wife comes out from the kitchen
with a hot bowl of soup, fried fish, tofu, steaming rice and
chili set on the big tray for our lunch. Right behind her are
three of Adizawarunu`s children carrying plates, glasses and
a pitcher of ice cold water.
Over lunch on the floor at the living room of Fauluaro`s house,
good food and laughter are shared, and the people of the new
village savor each other’s company in this new place they
now call home.
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White
duplex houses provided by the Australian Red Cross are
new homes for displaced families on Nias Island.
Photo: Mohammad Kholifan and Tessie Usapdin/International
Federation (p13238)
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Nahasu
remember his wife by tending his garden with love and
care.
Photo: Mohammad Kholifan and Tessie Usapdin/International
Federation (p13239)
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Workers
are full swing finishing as many houses as possible before
the rain season.
Photo: Mohammad Kholifan and Tessie Usapdin/International
Federation (p13234)
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