The Aceh İstanbul Orphanage which was established by IHH provides a healthy environment and warm home to the orphans in the region. Officials from the orphanage give support to the orphan families in the region as they give importance to keep in touch with these families for the development of the children. Reşad Başer, administrator of the orphanage, said orphan families whom they visited live under very difficult circumstances.
Sharing his impressions from these visits, Başer said: “A woman, Nursyidah, became both the mother and father of her children after the loss of her husband. She supports her family by doing laundry for her neighbors or working in the fields. Another woman, Salmi, lost her husband a short while ago. Her husband who was injured in a traffic accident left the hospital with a new disease he contracted there and lost his life in a short time. Another woman, Ernawati, also lost his husband due to a disease after he survived the tsunami. Despite harsh living conditions here, mothers work hard for their children.”
During the visits, the orphanage officials provided some financial aid to the orphan families in addition to aid packages.
The Aceh İstanbul orphanage, which was established following the loss of thousands of people in the tsunami disaster in Indonesia in 2004, continues to support the orphans and their families in the region.