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Red Cross Red Crescent highlights work of volunteers in tsunami-affected countries inspite of personal loss
 6 December 2005

They lost families, homes and livelihoods. What they did not lose was hope. They fought back and for the past 11 months have given others hope. They work to rebuild lives and communities, turn the tide and honour the memory of their loved ones.

With the one year commemoration approaching, the Red Cross Red Crescent honours the work of the thousands of volunteers in tsunami-affected countries who have worked so hard, in spite of their own grief and hardship. The following is a brief profile of just three of those selfless volunteers. If you would like to talk to any of these or others who give so much, call the contacts listed below.

  • Ardian Siregar, 30, is an Indonesian Red Cross volunteer whose job was to collect human remains – he is among those workers who recovered well over 100,000 bodies following the tsunami. Ardian, a team leader, did nothing else every day for three months. Now he is a trainer, helping to organize a Red Cross ambulance service in Banda Aceh. A Red Cross colleague suggested to him that after collecting so many bodies week after week, his present work which will prevent death must be so rewarding. Ardian replied that there was no difference, both jobs are about having respect for people and doing what you can for them.

  • Harniadi Ardi, 26, was a fisherman in a village close to Krueng Raya, on Aceh’s east coast. He lost his village and his family, and today is so afraid of the sea that he cannot go back to his old profession. But he understands grief, and as a Red Cross volunteer in psychosocial support, he listens to others express their pain. He is someone they can go to for support in what will be a long, slow healing process.

  • Lenawati, a 23-year-old student and Red Cross volunteer, was at sea with Red Cross colleagues when the tsunami came, travelling from Pulo Aceh island to Banda Aceh. The sea began to swell and their boat was sent spinning. Somewhere in the distance Lenawati heard what she thought was an explosion. Unable to get to Banda, the boat returned to the island where they found total devastation. Corpses lay everywhere. When she finally did reach Banda Aceh in search of help for the island, she saw the scale of the disaster. A nightmare had begun that extended to her west coast village where her grandparents were among the victims. Still mourning her own loss, she joined the relief effort. Today she helps the Red Cross restore homes and livelihoods in Aceh.



For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

John Sparrow, International Federation Information Coordinator, Tel: + 62 812 108 1759
Virgil Grandfield, International Federation Information Delegate, Tel: + 62 812 104 8207
Ann Stingle, Tsunami Press Officer, Geneva, Tel: + 41 22 730 4458 / +44 784 302 5065
Pete Haydon, International Federation Tsunami Press Officer, Geneva, Tel. + 41 22 730 4426


 The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 183 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
© International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies