'Struggling to eat': Survivors suffer after NTT quake

Survivors in East Nusa Tenggara province continue to face difficulties in rebuilding their lives after a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck on August 15. The disaster resulted in the death of 151 people and left over 46,000 homes damaged. Six weeks later, many still live in tents or makeshift shelters outside mosques and schools, struggling to find basic necessities.

Maria Onselia, a 59-year-old weaver, expressed her struggles with finding buyers for her woven fabric and buying water and rice. She also fears aftershocks could cause additional damage to her home. The government has pledged to provide temporary housing for 314 people by late November and construct more than 2,400 permanent units to replace those severely affected.

However, residents on neighboring Palue island, which has faced drinking water shortages due to broken storage tanks, remain concerned about their immediate needs. Sahria, a 38-year-old resident, relies on selling fish to support her family while waiting for officials to assess damage around her village.