Mercy Malaysia’s Norazam Abu Samah spent four years in Aceh after the 2004 tsunami helping in the rebuilding effort.

Upon hearing that a 6.5-magnitude earthquake had struck Aceh this time, the architect packed his bags and rushed back to Aceh to assess what Mercy Malaysia could do to help this time around.

After landing at the Lhokseumawe airport in Aceh yesterday, he headed straight to Pidie Jaya, the epicentre of the quake, which is two-and-a-half hours away.

“I am saddened by what has happened,” he said in a phone interview from Aceh yesterday.

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For him, memories of what it was like back in 2004 came flooding back.

“The worst impact in 2004 was from the tsunami as the water was so swift that it washed away thousands of houses. Back then, there were people sitting by the roadside.

“And I remember there was so much (international) solidarity in helping to rebuild Aceh. So, we will do our best to help Aceh again,” said Norazam, who is heading the Mercy Malaysia team of six to the disaster area.

During the 2004 underwater quake that triggered a tsunami, villages were totally wiped out and about 200,000 people lost their lives in Aceh alone.

Norazam said this time the quake hit a different part of Aceh, which was not impacted during 2004’s massive quake.

He said his heart was pained at the amount of destruction on the ground.

At Pasar Meredue, he saw rescue workers trying to free some 20 people trapped under the rubble of a shophouse that had collapsed.

He said because the quake was shallow, the impact on the ground was severe and damaging.

“Lots of houses, buildings and mosques have toppled and people are still trapped under.

“There is no electricity and people are running out of fresh water. About 4,000 people are registered as having evacuated their homes.

“We are heading to the hospital and clinics first to find out what they need. We have brought with us family kits, hygiene kits to be redistributed and we want to help with clean water and food,” he said.

He said Mercy Malaysia had doctors on standby who are ready to fly out as soon as they get the go-ahead.

“They are waiting for us to do the assessment.”

Source:
courtesy of THE STAR

by SHAHANAAZ HABIB

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