| I reported on Acheh this time as an assignment for a German organization (Terres de homes). They had asked me to take photos for the “Woman and Children in Armed Conflict in Acheh” campaign. I took 200 roles of films during my two month stay. Most of the shots were of women and children.
I met many women in Acheh; a student, an extreme activist worshipping Che Gevarra, a girl covered with mud planting rice, and an armed female soldier fighting to take revenge.
One night when I was staying with a friend's family living in the countryside with no access to electricity, his father became sick and the family began to panic. There used to be a hospital 15 kilometers away, but it was burned down last month. “Aren’t there any doctors or nurses?” “There is one but he specializes in traditional magic.” replied my friend. Traditional magic would be appropriate for everyday concerns but as the family looked over the father’s pale face, they discussed how they could find a doctor.
“I know a nurse.” My friend said, and left the house to pick up the nurse with his Honda motorcycle. Although it is not safe to go out at past nine, he drove off to save his father. After an hour the nurse arrived and the father was examined. It was not long before the family was relieved to hear that “He just has a stomachache.”
The next morning, I accompanied the nurse to carry out a medical examination at a village meeting place. The village hospital was burned down and the villagers did not have enough money to buy medicine. The medical examination was truly welcomed by elderly people. |
