In East Aceh children now learn to recite the Qur'an under candlelight. Or, for the more lucky ones: by gas lamps. For a long time now people have not been able to enjoy television because of the absence of electricity. Fishermen have to pay twice the usual price for the ice blocks they need. Hospitals are desperate because they have to cut their services to the barest essentials.

It has been a month now that the East Aceh area has been depri