By Alan Whelan
Maswita (45) and her two children (Rezky and Elfia) were inside the house when the earthquake of 7.9 Richter Scale shook West Sumatera, Indonesia. When the earthquake first started to shake her house, Maswita stood in shock not knowing what to do. However, after a few seconds, she regained her composure and shouted 'Gampoooo!' meaning earthquake in Indonesian. She grabbed her youngest son in her arms and ran out of the house as fast as she could. This was not the first time, Maswita had experienced an earthquake. In fact just two years earlier she lived through a very severe earthquake in Bengkulu Province. While there was massive relief that her, her two children and her mother Rahima (64) survived, Maswita was also deeply traumatised and upset by what had happened, and she knew that things would not be easy from then on in.
When evening came, Maswita had to build a make-shift hut from the scraps and fabrics that they had, in an attempt to cover themselves from the elements and try and get some sleep. They were also exposed to attacks from malaria and dengue carrying mosquitoes, endemic in that area of West Sumatera. That night, she listened with a heavy heart to the sobs of her mother who cried thinking about the house which her and her husband had built from scratch, which was not gone forever.
The next morning, somebody left a plastic bag filled with rice, egg and vegetables, enough to eat for one day but they managed to make it last for two. Sacrificing her pride, Maswita's mother begged on the main street. In tears, she says, 'I know it's embarrassing, but how can I see my grandchildren starving?'
Although there is still a long way to go Maswita and her family are beginning to piece their lives back together. They recently received from Trocaire's partner Ibu, a tarpaulin, sarongs, blankets, a string of rope and a bucket. They are using these items to construct a hut, and as Rahima says, at least for today there is a cover for her and her grandchildren from rain and mosquitoes.
With the funding that Trocaire has received from the Irish public through our Emergency Appeal for Indonesia, we are able to help people like Maswita and her family to literally build back their lives.
