A Gift for Maria’s Little Family

Maria, 28, is ready to welcome her new baby. Today, she lives together with her husband and son, Bani, 2, in a temporary shelter located near her former house. On September 28, 2018, her house collapsed because of the 7.4 magnitude earthquake.

“I was cooking in my kitchen when the earthquake suddenly hit. I grabbed my seven months old-son and ran away. Thank God, we were safe,” said Maria.

Maria and her son then lived at the emergency tent located in a mosque’s yard at that time. It was a hard time for them. Bani used to cry all the time because it was too hot at the day and too cold at night. The situation got worse when rain fell and mosquito stroke the tent.

“After two weeks, we moved to my parents in law’s house. Their houses were next to my collapsed house,” she continued.

It was only in Maria’s wish to have her own house back and live there. Her dreams came true when Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI), supported by the United Kingdom government through the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC), built new temporary shelters in her village, Marana. She was enlisted as one of the beneficiaries.

“I was happy to get the shelter because it really helped my family. My son, my husband and I have now moved to our own house,” said Maria happily. “Currently, I am pregnant. I am excited to welcome the baby in my own house.”

Maria is one of 110 people in Marana who benefited from temporary shelter assistance. With this shelter, all people who were affected by earthquakes and tsunami in 2018 are able to live in their own houses. It is expected that they can develop houses independently.

“I am grateful for Wahana Visi Indonesia. This temporary shelter is a gift for our family,” she closed the conversation.