Tsunami survivors yet to find homes

Thursday, December 22, 2005 (Banda Aceh):

As the first anniversary of the December 26 tsunami approaches, many survivors in hard-struck Indonesian province of Aceh are still living in makeshift shelters, with little hope of a permanent roof in the near future.

Rista, a 39-year-old fisherman from the village of Kakap, on Cermin beach, lost his wife and two children in the tsunami.

He now lives a life of solitude, still residing in the make shift shelter that has housed him since the Indian Ocean tsunami devastated the western coast of Indonesia's Aceh province.

The disaster killed more than 130,000 people in Indonesia. Nearly 25,000 are listed as missing.

Long term assistance:

Just days after the tsunami struck, aid agencies and governments from around the world rushed in food, water and medicine to desperate people stranded along the Aceh coast, saving thousands of lives.

But one year on, survivors are complaining that little of the long-term assistance has materialised.

Rista says that where alternative housing has been made available it is too faraway from his place of work, so he has no choice but to remain in his tent.

"It's better to be here than at the barracks. As a fisherman, it is easier for me to do my daily activities. The barracks are too far away and I don't have transportation to get me here everyday," Rista said.

Without the support of a family Rista is now forced to cook and clean for himself too, something he has had to learn to do.

Alone a great deal of the time, Rista finds comfort in listening to his radio. Although things are tough he has never given up.

He has sent out requests for help to build a new house but received only promises in return.

"Thousands of promises are given (by the government and Non Governmental Organisations) but until now they have not materialised. We have also received many offers of help, but again, it never happened," Rista said.

Rista is not alone in his predicament in the Kakap village. Many people can be seen living in tents, and villagers can see no evidence that the situation will change soon. (AP)