Aceh’s post–quake revival

Sun, December 11, 2016 / 10:51 pm

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A national red-and-white flag flies over a collapsed building at Meureudu Market in Pidie Jaya regency, Aceh. JP/ Dhoni Setiawan
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A trader removes mannequins from a damaged kiosk in Meureudu Market in Pidie Jaya regency, Aceh, on Saturday, 10 December 2016. JP/ Dhoni Setiawan
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A counselor from the Social Affairs Ministry cheers up children at an evacuation camp in Meunasah Jurong village, Pidie Jaya regency, Aceh on Saturday, 10 December 2016. JP/ Dhoni Setiawan
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Students of Pulo Ulim elementary school in Pidie Jaya regency, Aceh, stand in front of their school’s sign on their first day back in class after the Dec. 7 earthquake. JP/ Dhoni Setiawan
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A fish monger waits for customers at the half-destroyed Meureudu Market in Pidie Jaya regency, Aceh. JP/ Dhoni Setiawan
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A man repairs damage at his store caused by the Dec. 7 earthquake. JP/ Dhoni Setiawan
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An elementary student passes by a mosque to go to his school in Pidie Jaya regency, Aceh, on Saturday, 10 December 2016. JP/ Dhoni Setiawan
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Locals lend a hand to help a storekeeper remove goods from his damaged kiosk at Meureudu Market in Pidie Jaya regency, Aceh, on Saturday, 10 December 2016 JP/ Dhoni Setiawan
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Zulkarnaen (center) and his family members arrive at the house of his bride-to-be in Meunasah Jurong village, Pidie Jaya regency, Aceh. The groom wears the traditional wedding attire of Aceh. JP/ Dhoni Setiawan
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Rohimah (left) prepares to welcome her husband-to-be and his family members for a modest wedding celebration at her house in Meunasah Jurong village, Pidie Jaya regency, Aceh, on Saturday, 10 December 2016. JP/ Dhoni Setiawan
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Zulkarnaen and Rohimah sit together with family members for a modest wedding celebration at the bride’s house in Meunasah Jurong village in Pidie Jaya regency, Aceh, on Saturday, 10 December 2016. JP/ Dhoni Setiawan

Residents of Pidie Jaya regency in Aceh might experience more aftershocks from a 6.5-magnitude earthquake that hit the region on Dec. 7, but many of them have decided to stand up and quickly restart their lives.

Although some people still live in a number of evacuation shelters, many locals can already be seen continuing their normal activities. Traders are reopening their stalls while many students are already back in school. Residents Zulkarnaen and Rohimah have even decided to go ahead with their plan to tie the knot in a modest ceremony.

The earthquake, which killed more than 100 people and displaced thousands from their homes, has not made locals lose hope, as they are eager to start over once Mother Nature calms down. [hwa]