“Just after the earthquake my wife and I decided to go back to Banda Aceh by motorbike to see whether there had been any damage,” Syuhada explained “We were worried that buildings might have collapsed.”
On the way to Banda Aceh the sheer scale of the damage was revealed. People were panicking and running in the streets. Buildings were completely destroyed and roads were blocked with cars and motorbikes.
The couple had no idea what was happening until someone told them that giant waves had destroyed more than half of Banda Aceh and killed many people.
Searching for family
The next day Syuhada began looking for his relatives. He wanted to find his uncle’s family who lived in his village, Kajhu Indah.
He continued searching in Banda Aceh and in Darussalam mosque. Amidst all the death he was hoping for a miracle.
10 days later
Days passed and Syuhada could find no trace of his missing relatives. Ten days after the tsunami, he finally met a friend who had news.
He had seen Syuhada’s uncle, aunt and cousins drown when the waves submerged their village.
Shattered by the news, Syuhada and his wife set off for his father’s village, Meulaboh, a two-day journey away.
Reunited
In Meulaboh, Syuhada was relieved to find two of his brothers and his father, Abdul Munir alive. They broke the tragic news that his mother, sister and one of his brothers had been killed. The family home and land had also been destroyed by the waves.
Temporary shelter
Syuhada returned to Banda Aceh with his wife and younger brother, Muslim. After spending a month living with friends, the family moved into barracks in Kajhu Indah.
Syuhada started work as a carpenter once again. Although the family received support from aid agencies, Syuhada knew he would suffer psychologically unless he actively helped himself and his family.
Syuhada’s wife gave birth to a baby girl in late 2006 while still living in temporary shelter,
Islamic Relief
In December 2005 Islamic Relief (IR) began the “Back to Kajhu Indah” housing programme to rebuild 152 homes and install a new water system for the village.
Syuhada sits in his new house
The community was actively involved throughout the process, with many villagers receiving basic construction training. While his house was being rebuilt, Syuhada visited every day to check progress and ensure that the builders did not make any mistakes.
All 152 homes are now ready for people to move in and have been handed over to the local community. Each home has its own supply of clean water and a drainage outlet for waste. IR has also built a new water system, and a basketball court.
Syuhada, his wife, two-month-old daughter and brother moved in one month ago. Syuhada’s father, Abdul Munir, has also joined them until his own house is rebuilt. Returning from an evening spent fishing, his sons greet Abdul Munir with all the affection and warmth of a family happy to be together.