Shattered canoes, clothes and furniture lie amongst the rubble of what was the Bosua community. There are 112 families in Bosua and 50 of them have lost everything - homes, family members and livelihoods. But Bosua is a resilient community and since the devastation of the 25 October tsunami there is a desire to rebuild and get back to normality.

Like most communities in the Mentawai Islands, Bosua is very isolated. Access is by boat only and it takes 2 1/2 hours by canoe to reach the market towns. Without the assistance of SurfAid, these communities would still be in temporary shelter for many years to come.



Since mid-November 2010, the SurfAid Temporary Shelter team has been working in South Sipora with the communities devastated by the earthquake and tsunami. Through rapid assessment and focus group discussions with the community members, we have determined key priorities around shelter, water and sanitation to develop a plan that best meets their needs.




The task is huge - in South Sipora 372 families live in the communities devastated by the tsunami. People are very scared of another tsunami so most homes that are not destroyed are abandoned and families are living under tarpaulins in the hills. It is currently the wet season and for the next few months we can expect torrential rain every day. Therefore it is critical to get families under adequate shelter as soon as possible.



In light of the devastation, it has been amazing to see the response from the communities. Within the first weeks of the disaster, locals had begun salvaging materials and constructing basic shelter using the building kits supplied by SurfAid.

Using local construction techniques and materials such as bamboo and roof thatching, along with recycled timber from destroyed homes, the shelter team will provide non-local materials and facilitate the construction of homes.




The Quiksilver SurfAid Katiet Community Centre, a model of earthquake-resistant construction, serves as the base for the shelter team and the housing design. Using features including timber connections and bracing, the shelter will be durable, earthquake-resistant and appropriate for the families to live in.  With improved shelter, communities can focus on reestablishing livelihoods.



Project consultant Matt King said: “Even though there has been tremendous destruction and loss of life from the devastating tsunami, it is inspiring to see the resilience of the local people when they are so motivated and positive to build new homes and get on with their lives.”