Only memories remain for the villagers in Lampuuk, an hour's drive from Banda Aceh in Indonesia, the city closest to the epicenter of the earthquake and tsunami in December 2004.
When the tsunami hit the village it killed 6,000 inhabitants, leaving behind just 1,000 to mourn the loss of their families, friends and homes. The only structure left standing in Lampuuk was the local mosque. Rebuilding is a daunting prospect, but like the rest of Aceh, the survivors are refusing to let the disaster destroy what little they have left.
In February, UN special envoys Bill Clinton and George Bush Sr. paid an unexpected visit to Lampuuk. The villagers believed this would promote their cause and capture the world's attention. The international community has certainly been supporting Lampuuk by giving aid... but the agencies have hit a problem.
The government has told them to leave the area. The region has been a conflict zone for decades and aid agencies have been told it is not safe for foreigners to stay there.
At The Epicentre focuses on the extraordinary hurdles the people of Lampuuk are facing, providing an insight into their incredible resilience and the force of their faith.
Spotlight is a weekly series of investigative reports from around the world, introduced by author and Journalist Mark Hertsgaard. Mr. Hertsgaard’s latest book is “The Eagle's Shadow: Why America Fascinates and Infuriates the World."
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