|
Tsunami Recovery: In Their Own Words
Marissa Mahoney, with Bonnie Gillespie and Brian Hatchell
Sunday, December 25, 2005 — When the tsunami rushed ashore on the morning of December 26, 2004, it brought devastation across more than a dozen countries. When the water retreated, it left a new landscape in its wake. In a matter of minutes, villages disappeared, beaches were moved, businesses were swept away and families were shattered. At the time, it was hard to imagine how people would ever recover from this awesome level of annihilation. Now, one year later, it is amazing to see people so dedicated to ensuring that their families, livelihoods and communities will be restored.
When the disaster struck, from individuals to school groups to entire countries, people rallied with humanitarian relief organizations like the American Red Cross to ensure that there would be sufficient funds for the tremendous relief and recovery effort ahead. Levels of giving were unprecedented as people around the world united behind one cause – to help.
A group of boys serve themselves lunch at a school in southern Sri Lanka. The American Red Cross has partnered with the World Food Program to provide food to over 2.1 million people. |
The American Red Cross realized that the most efficient way to provide life-saving supplies was to team up with organizations already on the ground in the tsunami-affected countries. These organizations had access to essential supplies and had transportation systems in place to deliver them. Working with partners, the American Red Cross delivered food and water and vaccinated people for diseases like polio and measles. The American Red Cross also worked with affected national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, drawing on their knowledge of local customs to ensure that emergency relief efforts were far-reaching and culturally appropriate. Together, the Red Cross was able to reach millions of survivors.
While ongoing needs are still being met, the American Red Cross has shifted its focus to the long-term programs that will help rebuild communities and restore livelihoods. Over the next five years, the Red Cross will focus on providing access to safe water, offering emotional support and preparing communities to handle future disasters. The American Red Cross works with community leaders to make sure programs are sustainable for years to come.
The American Red Cross has diverse delegations in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, East Africa and other affected areas who are committed to the promise the world made following the tragedy last December – to help.
Harmiadi Arbi – Early 20s tsunami survivor, local volunteer
A worker for Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI – the Indonesia Red Cross) helps with tent replacement in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. PMI employees are trained to properly install new tents to help improve the living conditions for tsunami survivors. |
After the tsunami, which leveled my entire village in Aceh Besar, I have only one brother left. All my sisters and brothers, both my parents, my friends, they are all gone. I used to be a fisherman, but now I am very scared of the sea. I am scared the tsunami will come again.
I placed my strength into helping the 200 survivors from my village. I began volunteering with PMI [the Indonesian Red Cross] and discovered that as I worked tirelessly for my community, I was helping myself to heal. I received training from American Red Cross staff in psychosocial support. I like to work with the psychosocial program very much. It makes me feel not as sad, and I am able to help my community after the tsunami.
Ricardo Caivano – Senior Country Representative, Indonesia
A year is a short time when you're talking about destruction on the scale of the tsunami. We had to consider a massive reconstruction and implement programs that will be for the long-term. It's important how we organize and structure everything we do.
Over the past year we've seen the situation in Indonesia move from devastation to hope. People have regained a sense of control after being in chaos. We're helping to build that pathway to recovery.
Our team here reflects what America is all about – diversity. We have people of all backgrounds on our staff, but they have the common goal of working together for the people of Aceh, and the willingness to work hard to accomplish those goals. The diversity of the programs they're implementing is helping bring broad and lasting solutions to the challenges we all face.
Wan Mulida – tsunami survivor, International Organization for Migration housing resident
A woman cradles her baby in a transitional shelter in Sri Lanka—she is one of approximately 675,000 people to receive non-food emergency supplies from the American Red Cross. |
When the tsunami struck, I was three-months pregnant and barely escaped. My father and my husband's parents did not survive. The land my husband received in Banda Aceh as his inheritance we donated to the community so that temporary housing could be built and our former neighbors could be neighbors again. We now live there with more than 100 other survivors.
Even after this long of time, the earthquakes still remind me of the tsunami and I think about the future and the future of my baby most of all. I'm still scared a little, but life goes on. We have a good place to stay because people that care had them built for us. My husband and I were happy to share our land with the people of our community. It will help us all look for a better future. We are grateful for the people like the American Red Cross and International Organization for Migration who are here to help us.
Brian Hatchell – Press Officer, Sri Lanka
In Matara and Hambantota districts, some of the hardest hit regions in the south of Sri Lanka, and two areas where the American Red Cross is focusing its efforts, you can drive for miles and see the impact of the tsunami on the country's infrastructure. Entire waterside towns have been reduced to rubble. On occasion, I would come across a house that appeared untouched by nature's fury, only to walk around back and realize the façade was the only thing left standing.
Despite losing everything, including family, many people I spoke too said they are optimistic about their future. I have seen a lot of destruction and have heard many stories of despair. But the one thing that continues to overwhelm me is the resilience and determination of the tsunami survivors to return to the life they lived before this disaster.
The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected. Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.
Related Links:
Related Content:
|
