Building Hope Amid Natural Disaster

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

Residents together with the victims of the tsunami in Carita join the Istighosah and Joint Prayer at Jami Al Khusaeni Mosque, Carita, Pandeglang, Banten, before the turn of the year, Monday (31/12/2018) evening until Tuesday (1/1/2019) morning. New Year’s Eve in Carita, usually full of joy, was plagued with grief.

Rain drenched Carita Beach in Pandeglang, Banten, on Monday (31/12/2018) night. Sanih, 45, intoned a prayer while holding prayer beads in his right hand at Al-Khusaeni Mosque in Carita. He sat cross-legged with his eyes closed.

Together with hundreds of other survivors of the Sunda Strait tsunami, Sanih prayed fervently for a return to normalcy. Adults and children packed the mosque, and their chants reverberated through the falling rain.

New Year’s Eve prayers have always been popular. This time, however, things were a little different as many of the congregants had been affected by the Dec. 22 tsunami.

They were praying that there would be no more disasters. “May Allah grant our prayers in the new year, so that no more victims fall,” Sanih prayed.

For him, the prayers offered a ray of hope. He prayed that he could return to his daily activities soon, after living in an emergency shelter for more than a week.

Amah, 39, also immersed herself in the solemnity of the prayers. She prayed for various things, including that the local economy and tourism would blossom again.

“If tourism does not recovered, I won’t be able to earn money,” said Amah, who used to rent out inner tubes on the beach.

Among the mosque congregants were Dinda, 19, and Desi, 37. Dinda’s family members were scattered for several days as they had sought safety in different villages. “We were finally reunited after five days,” she said.

Despite the growing sense of safety after several days without further disaster, Dinda’s family members remain vigilant. They take turns to stay awake at night to keep watch. Not one night has passed since the tsunami with everyone sound asleep.

Dinda said she prayed that the government would improve disaster mitigation in the area in the new year, to ensure that everyone could seek safety during a disaster. And that steps would be taken to recover the local economy so that locals could earn a living once again.

Organizers of the event and mosque management distributed mung bean drinks and snacks to those present. People greeted and voiced support for one another. Even in post-disaster grief, people still greeted each other with a smile.

Latest data at the Sunda Strait tsunami integrated post on Tuesday (1/1) showed that the tsunami had claimed 317 lives, injured 757 and displaced 24,926 people in Banten. Carita in Pandeglang regency was among the worst-hit areas with over 71 deaths.

During the prayers, people were encouraged to reflect on their daily activities, in the hope of getting closer to God and strengthening the bond between neighbors.

Meanwhile, in Lampung, tsunami survivors on Sebesi Island commemorated the change of the year solemnly. Their hearts were filled with hope for a better year ahead.

Several hours before midnight on Dec. 31, 2018, almost half of the 900 survivors in the local emergency shelter chose to sleep as they were accompanied by the chanting of prayers and hope for the year ahead.

Disasters, much like poverty, may bring sadness to the people, but for many, there are many ways to be happy even in poverty.

Simple ways

Welder Adef, 51, found his happiness when he saw his daughter Bulan, 8, smiling upon watching the fireworks. Nurseha, 45, a kerak telor (spicy omelet) seller in Setu Babakan, Jakarta, has simple ways to keep happy.

That night, he left his cart behind and walked toward the main stage installed by the Setu Babakan area management unit (UPK) when he heard the sound of traditional gambus music.

For Nurseha, happiness means living life without reservation. Dancing is how he expresses his joy amid his busy days as a kerak telor seller who spends his days sitting by his cart. “We need to be happy through simple ways, like dancing,” he said.

In downtown Jakarta, rain poured over most areas since the afternoon on New Year’s Eve. As the night wore on, a barefooted Sayidi, 57, peddled Rp 20,000 (US$1.38) plastic coats to passersby. The hems of his trousers were wet from the rain. “I broke my flip-flops earlier,” he said.

Several times, Sayidi, who was wearing one of his plastic coats, approached his wife and children, who were selling drinks. Sayidi then fixed his youngest daughter’s coat.

For Sayidi, happiness means being with his family. That night, he was taking his three children to watch the fireworks.

Nearing midnight, the fireworks display began. Sayidi’s youngest daughter was all smiles. Amid the packed revelers who took pictures, videos and selfies, the family just stood silently and smiled together.

For disaster survivors, there is always room for hope. For the urban poor, the chance for happiness is always there too. It is the same for everyone (ILO/NIA/MTK/BAY/SPW/IGA/E10/E17/E16/E19/E20)