Resilience

Children are tough. They experience things and deal with them most times, and somehow find ways of coping. In the aftermath of the recent earthquakes in Sumatra, I met a few hardy kids who were taking it all in their stride.

Faces, West Sumatra Earthquake, October 2009

The mass media has focused on Padang, West Sumatra for virtually all of their images and stories. Like in many mass populated Asian country, the hardest hit and longest suffering members of society are those in rural and semi-rural areas. MERCY Malaysia's mission of medical aid and emergency relief based itself around Pariaman, a smaller city, approximately 80km north of Padang.

While entire villages have been destroyed and casualty counts still uncertain, the resolve of the hardy and tested come to the fore. Even before aid has arrived, life is set back in motion, with re-building and healing at the very top of the agenda.

Batu Basah, Pariaman, West Sumatra, October 2009

Tandikat, Pariaman, West Sumatra, October 2009

Batu Basah, Pariaman, West Sumatra, October 2009

MERCY Malaysia mobile clinic at Sungei Ibur, Pariaman, West Sumatra, October 2009

MERCY Malaysia mobile clinic at Ampalu, Pariaman, West Sumatra, October 2009