Aceh Photos

In Late April early May last year I was funded by Caritas Aotearoa to go to the Provence of Aceh in Indonesia following the devastating Tsunami which had hit the area on boxing day (24 December) 2004.
My job was to record the aid work being done by Caritas's partner organizations
JRSJesuit Refugee Service
CRSCatholic Relief Services
ICMCInternational Catholic Migration Commission
and IDEP

I spent around 20 days in Indonesia, traveling via Medan to Banda Aceh the capital, to Pulo Aceh, Pedi, Muelaboh and finally through southern Aceh to Tepaktuan and over the mountains back to Medan.

I would have to say it was the most amazing experience of my life and I am very grateful for the opportunity. The people I met were unbelievably hospitable and friendly. I never once felt threatened by the locals and I was able to meet so many inspiring people.

I also have to thank the Achehneese Support group in Wellington who help me to do the trip as well as Rayna Fahey who supported me right through as well.

Again Many thanks to Caritas and their partner organizations.

Your comments are much appreciated, and I apologize for the delay in editing the last post as it has been a very busy week for me.

Doctor Banda Aceh

  

Waterfront Banda Aceh

  

This man was fishing in an area where his house used to be. Where he is standing in the water there used to be housing.

Lhoknga - South of Banda Aceh

  
You can see in this image looking north towards Banda near the cement works in Lhoknga where the water has taken much of the shoreline.

Waterfront Banda Aceh

  

One of the few house left standing in the downtown area close to the sea. The owner has painted his phone number on the building most likely to prevent it from being claimed by someone else.

Waterfront Banda Aceh

  
This building was not so lucky. This type of building is common in the commercial areas of Aceh. The upper floor used as a living space and the bottom floor used as a business.
Traveling through the centre of the city, which still remained, many of the shops remained unopened after the tsunami.

Waterfront Banda Aceh

  
These men are trying to salvage pieces of scrap metal while clearing the site on which their home stood.

Waterfront Banda Aceh

  

Motorcyclist Banda Aceh

  

Fishermen at The Harbour Mouth - Banda Aceh

  

Tsunami Survivor Pulo Aceh

  
During my stay I spent a night on Pulo Aceh, an Island 2 hours north by Boat of Banda. Access to the island is difficult as there is nothing left standing of the villages or infrastructure. I managed to get a few shots with light from a hand wound generator.
The heat was immense reaching the high 40s (degrees Celsius) with unbelievable humidity. Even at night the temperature did not drop below the mid 30s.

Dominoes Pulo Aceh

  

Pulo Aceh

  

Pulo Aceh

  

Pulo Aceh

  
This village was totally wiped out. It was very difficult to imagine the place before the tsunami. The things that stick in your mind are the day to day items left behind like cookware, clothing and bicycles.
The Island was hit first y the earthquake, followed by 3 waves. The first destroyed everything, the second carrying everyone and everything out to sea and the third washed up the bodies and wreckage.

Mother and daughter Banda Aceh

  
This woman is part of a sewing project in Banda Aceh set up by my good friend, then working for JRS, Unika.

Radja age 4 Banda Aceh

  
Radja and his family although loosing their home, they were lucky in that they were visiting family the day of the Tsunami and as result were spared much of the suffering many others experienced. Radja lost allot of friends and appeared to be suffering from trauma.

Sewing Project Banda Aceh

  

Sewing Project Banda Aceh

  

Children Playing Pedi District

  
Everywhere I went in Aceh the children always reacted the same way to the camera. Firstly they would be very shy and would hide away. Intrigue would get the better of them and they would start to poke their eyes out from behind walls. Eventually more would take an interest and it would develop into a wrestling match to get infront of the camera.

IDPs from Pulo Aceh

  
These two men are "Internally Displace People" (IDPs) from the Island of Pulo Aceh whom I met through JRS. They were currently living mostly on the mainland and returning to the Island to help reconstruct their Village.

Temporary Shelter Banda Aceh

  
Day to day life in the camps are pretty tough and pretty basic, however it never ceased to amaze me how generous and hospitable the people were. Many had lost everything but would give you the shirt off their back if you asked for it.

Children Banda Aceh

  

Womens Group Banda Aceh

  
These women were working together to make traditional clothing for an upcoming wedding

Sewing Programe Banda Aceh

  

Barracks Banda Aceh

  
Much of the temporary housing in Aceh looks like this, they are referred to as barracks and are little more than long shed split into family rooms. I always felt badly for the children who would be growing up in these housing projects. As always though they managed to keep themselves occupied and were constantly flashing me their beautiful smiles.