Photo 6

This is Reina Devi. She lives with her mother, father and brothers. There house was completely destroyed by the tsunami, with only the foundations left. Today they are in a new house and are typical of the resilience shown by so many who have suffered so much.

Reina’s family is from Kuala Tripa, a flat, sandy village a few hundred metres from the sea. This village is part of the Nakan Raya district, an area that was the scene of much conflict between the TNI and GAM before the tsunami.

Reina Devi was home when the tsunami came, “I was only 13 years old. I felt a strong earthquake and I ran towards the ocean. I could see that the water had gone right out and I knew there was a problem. We all ran to the highest point in town, the bridge over the river. There were hundreds of us sheltering on the bridge, the water passed under us by just centimetres.”

After the tsunami people from Kuala Tripa stayed in local district offices in the sub district capital, Aloo Pili before moving into temporary shelter some months later. JRS, Caritas Australia partner organsiation, assisted the people of this village to build new homes, “they gave the community materials to build our homes, but we had to work in close contact with the trades people”, Reina explains, before proudly adding, ”my father and brothers all helped to build this new house.”

The practice of rebuilding using local labour and handing on skills is an important contribution that Caritas can make to the long term skills base of the community.

Top: Reina Devi

Bottom: The bridge where the villages entire population sought refuge from the enormous waves when the tsunami struck