Lombok earthquake: 'Resilient' communities in flattened villages desperate for new homes ahead of rainy season

Jacob Jarvis8 September 2018

Resilient communities in earthquake ridden Lombok are desperate for new homes ahead of rainy season, as shocks continue to tremble the scenes of desolation.

There are multiple villages on the Indonesian island that have been reduced to nothing, more than 500 people have died, and hundreds of thousands are displaced due to the disasters.

Sydney Morton is a Red Cross worker who, alongside colleagues, is assessing the needs of those in affected areas and trying to bring some semblance of normality where possible.

“With rainy season fast approaching, reconstruction and recovery are critical. An estimated 75 per cent of all buildings in North Lombok are damaged – in some villages every single structure," she said.

“Families urgently need earthquake-resistant shelters.

“My experience on Lombok has included moments of true joy, seeing school children play games and forget the trauma they've experienced, and heartache, as I look in to the eyes of parents who are praying for this to stop.

“Everywhere I turn, there are signs of resilience.”

Sydney Morton looks through the wreckage in Northern Lombok
Sydney Morton/IFRC

Many buildings were damaged by the initial 6.4-magnitude earthquake on July 29.

This left foundations and structures weakened ahead of 7.0, 5.9, 6.5 and 5.1 magnitude quakes throughout August.

There have been more than 1,000 aftershocks in a month and there are concerns of more occurring.

Dangiang is one village where not a single building remains standing due to the high magnitude natural disasters it has been hit by.

Images from Northern Lombok

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Across the island, more than 400,000 people have been left without a residence due to the blasts.

“The destruction caused by each of these events in communities like Dangiang is profound,” said Ms Morton.

She spoke of a resident named Azhar, now living in a tent with his family, who said: "We've been here for over 40 years… and raised our children across the street from my sister and her family.”

Their rudimentary home sits beside where their former property was.

Within the rubble, which was once the rooms Azhar inhabited, remains a television and a book that formerly sat atop a shelf.

Dangiang resident Azhar looks through the remains of what was his home
Sydney Morton/IFRC

His niece taught in the community and his daughters were pupils.

Their classes have been stopped due to the wanton destruction surrounding them.

But still, “they find a way to play and keeping learning here".

There have been 577 schools across Lombok damaged.

She spoke of a desire to “return back to the school children”.

Elsewhere, Ms Morton told the Standard how families are huddled in temporary accommodation and some scared to stay anywhere near the ocean for fear of tsunamis.

When an earthquake struck near Mataram on August 31, a 5.1 magnitude earthquake hit.

Recalling this, Ms Morton said: “Teachers and students ran from their classrooms. Traffic halted in the bustling city as people fled to the streets. As the midday prayer sang throughout Mataram city, many residents remained outside fearing aftershocks. Parents consoled their children.”

A resident of Mataram, speaking to Ms Morton, told her that though they were tired of enduring the shocks, the people of her homeland would endure.

"We are tired but we have to stay strong," said Suliko from outside of her tea shop in Mataram.

"We are strong."

Suliko from outside of her tea shop in Mataram said: "We are strong."
Sydney Morton/IFRC

For the clear up operation in Lombok, a government expert has recently said that more heavy machinery is needed to conduct it effectively.

Quoted by the Jakarta Post, joint task force chief of earthquake mitigation in Lombok, Maj. Gen. Madsuni, said: “A lack of heavy equipment hampers the demolition [process] and debris clean-up. Now, only 8 to 10 percent [of all damaged buildings] has been cleaned up.”

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is advising against “all but essential travel” to areas of Lombok north of the main east-west route from Pamenang.

This includes the Gili Islands.

A statement from the organisation said: “Aftershocks have occurred, including some of a significant scale. These may continue in the region in the coming days and weeks.”

Ms Morton travelled from Washington DC to help in Lombok
Sydney Morton/IFRC

· Sydney Morton is in Lombok on behalf of the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent-- comprised of 190 Red Cross Red Crescent societies worldwide. She travelled to Lombok from Washington, DC, and is based with the American Red Cross. To support the Red Cross to respond to disasters like the earthquakes in Lombok, you can donate to www.redcross.org.uk/DisasterFund. She would also encourage people in the UK to get involved with the British Red Cross, more details of which can be found at www.redcross.org.uk.

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