Sardilah, 54, was returning home from morning prayers when an earthquake shook her village, Bulus Kulon, in Java on the 27th May 2006.

Her first instinct was to escape to open ground where she would be safe. In the panic, a neighbour thrust a three-year-old girl into her hands and Sardilah turned to find somewhere to run to.

As she fled the built up area with the young child, houses began to fall and she became frightened for her own family who were still at home.

Turning Back

Fifteen of Sardilah's relatives were still in the house, including her daughter and her parents. The tremors didn't stop, and disregarding her own safety, she made up her mind to go back to her family.

"I had to go to the house because my family were there. Even if I died, at least I would have seen my family first," says Sardilah. "The ground quaked violently beneath my feet, but I held my nerve so I could reach home."

She found the house still standing when she arrived home, but the tremors had not stopped. Her family were in a state of panic and praying for safety.

As she entered the house collapsed and the family was buried underneath bricks and wooden joists.  

"I held the girl tightly against me to protect her. Blood gushed from a wound in my head. My parents shielded themselves under a table, and my brother under a huge pan. I didn’t know what happened to the others, I was in a panic myself. I felt faint because of my head wound."

Self help

Sardilah and her family were pulled out of the rubble alive and the little girl that she clutched in her arms escaped unharmed. But twelve people died in Bulus Kulon that day and scores were injured. Sardilah and her family, although injured themselves, helped to give first aid to others who were even worse off than themselves.

No outside help reached the villagers except for Islamic Relief aid workers who were there four hours after the earthquake. It was three days after earthquake when aid finally got through to Bulus Kulon and distributions of blanket, food, medicines took place.

"We really benefited from the help IR gave us to erect shelters. Although, of course, our lives have not returned to normal, but the burden has been lightened."

"I don't know how long my family and I will stay in this temporary home. We have cleared the rubble of our house and recovered what we could."

IR in Java

IR aid workers are helping survivors like Sardilah recover from the disaster with distributions of aid. IR is also organising them into groups to build temporary shelters and install sanitation facilities. IR aid workers have also installed a water purification unit in Klaten and despatched tents for 3,750 people affected by the quake.