This is Our Home

Juari (right) and his wife sit in what remains of their house, sheltered by a tarpaulin provided by Mercy Corps. Photo: Debbie Tomasowa/Mercy Corps

When I arrive in the tiny village of Panjangrejo, not far from the epicenter of the Java earthquake, I see only towering clusters of bamboo and sparsely growing trees. I have to peek through the jungle foliage to see the village itself. It's only then that the devastation of the earthquake comes into focus.

On May 27, nearly every house in Pajangrejo was either destroyed or severely damaged in just a few violent seconds. Families here are still living in the shells of their broken houses, but Mercy Corps is here trying to shelter them until they can begin to rebuild.

Juari, 50, and his wife are two of the dozens of survivors in this village bravely facing the uncertainties that each day holds.

"You see these," Juari says, gingerly holding up his hand. "A wooden cabinet in our bedroom collapsed and fell on my hand as I was trying to keep my balance when the earthquake happened."

Three of his fingers are still wrapped in bandages and the other two remain visibly swollen, making it hard for him to start the cleanup he knows must come.

For now, Juari and his wife are living in the only part of their once-modest house that still stands. The roof, however, is gone. It collapsed during the earthquake, leaving them and their meager belongings to be soaked by Indonesia's relentless rains.

A roof over their heads

Soon after the earthquake, Mercy Corps provided large tarpaulins for Juari and other local families to protect them from the rains. Before the agency distributed these temporary roofs and other shelter supplies, families like the Juaris were left to the elements.

After the earthquake struck, Juari, his wife and their 13-year-old daughter were living on the village's main street with several other displaced families. They sheltered themselves with empty rice sacks.

"People were nice enough to give us rice, noodles and some used clothing items. But the shelter supplies that Mercy Corps provided are helping us to live together as a family by giving us a roof over our heads."

"Right now, it might not seem like much, but this is still our home," Juari says, smiling.

Relief shifting to rebuilding

Almost three weeks after the earthquake, Mercy Corps continues to respond to needs, trying to meet the most urgent - like temporary shelter and critical hygiene supplies. Our emergency teams have distributed tarpaulins, ropes, hygiene kits, mats and blankets to several severely affected villages in the most devastated, remote areas around the Indonesian city of Bantul.

A long recovery and rebuilding looms next for villages like Pajangrejo and families like the Juaris. Mercy Corps is committed to helping families through those arduous months with essential tools and much-needed support. Just like the Indian Ocean tsunami, our obligation to families in need doesn't fade with the headlines.

It's time for us to move on to the next village to assess ongoing needs. As we leave, Juari and his wife sit on a makeshift bench, looking unsure of what to do next, but confident the time for action is drawing near.

"Thank you for choosing us to receive the shelter supplies," Juari says, as I start to ease back through the bamboo. "With your help, we will stay here and build again. Where else would we go? This is our home."