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Rebuilding in post-tsunami Aceh

Alam works with community members to conduct excavations for water supply pipes. Photo: Courtesy Naik Alam

The memory of 26 December 2004 is still etched in the minds of millions. That day, a tsunami swept across South Asia, devastating the peoples of numerous countries including Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India. The northern Indonesian province of Aceh, where over 130 000 people lost their lives, was one of the most severely impacted areas. Naik Alam is an Ismaili who has been working in the region since 2005 as part of an effort to rebuild the devastated province.

Describing the economic and social implications of the disaster on the people of Aceh, Alam explains that he was drawn to the region in 2005 by the staggering need for assistance. The tsunami caused an estimated USD $1.2 billion in damage to the province’s economy, compounded by the loss of boats, fish ponds, crops, and livestock. The disaster severely affected the education sector, which lost 2 500 teachers and saw 2 000 schools damaged or destroyed, while over 122 health service buildings were damaged.

Alam says his initial experience in the region helped him to realize the sheer amount of work that lay ahead. He arrived in Indonesia on a day of clear skies, landing in the town of Banda. As he looked around, he was somewhat relieved as the damage did not appear as bad as he had expected. The next day however, he travelled to other parts of Aceh. To his horror, the sight was one of devastation, as debris marked the landscape and the human toll was overwhelming.

Water supply pipes are inspected, and those that have been broken are either fixed or replaced. Photo: Courtesy Naik Alam

Originally from Danyor, Pakistan, Alam completed his undergraduate studies in Civil Engineering and earned a Master’s degree in Rural Development. The move to Indonesia was a big step for Alam, but he was determined to apply his experience in sanitation to the needs of the people of Aceh. Prior to working in Indonesia, Alam had spent eight years with the Aga Khan Planning and Building Services’ Water and Sanitation Extension Programme, a role which provided him an opportunity to work on health projects in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and opened his eyes to the development issues affecting these areas.

In post-tsunami Aceh, guaranteeing the supply of fresh water and preventing the spread of disease was critical to the survival of the population. Alam and his team focused on educating the local population on methods of reducing water-borne diseases, while also excavating water supply pipes buried under debris and replacing those that were broken.

In order to ensure the sustainability of the work in his absence, Alam built relationships with local leaders, encouraging the formation of community teams to serve as “hygiene promoters.” He hopes that these teams will be empowered to continue the sanitation efforts after he leaves.

International aid organisations such as UNICEF and the Red Cross are leading long-term reconstruction efforts in tsunami-devastated regions, and have received approximately US $13 billion in donations. These funds are enabling the rebuilding of schools, hospitals, social services and other amenities in order to help local residents return to a more normal and stable way of life.

Alam meets regularly with community leaders to discuss the rebuilding effort. Photo: Courtesy Naik Alam

However, the journey to rehabilitate Aceh has not been easy. The early recovery process was slowed by the complexities of on-the-ground coordination, frustrating Alam and his team. In addition, despite his extensive experience and understanding of sanitation, language barriers made it difficult to articulate the importance of his work to the local people.

Nevertheless, Alam is pleased by signs of understanding from the community as he and his team makes progress. While he does not expect significant advances to come quickly, the traction gained gives him hope that, as communities take ownership of the projects, they will find solutions to their needs.