Swept Away

A flood and landslide disaster in Sumatra has killed scores of people. Now thousands face the threat of hunger.

December 4, 2000

They were two ordinary little girls and they did not normally ask their father for much. But on this occasion big sister Seli and little sister Neneng both desperately wanted the same thing: matching sets of clothes in the same style and color. Their dad Adrison could not bear to see them cry. One Friday some two weeks ago he rushed out to get his girls what they wanted.

When he returned to their house in Talawi village, in West Sumatra’s

...

More Articles