Björk visits a mass grave.
UNICEF UK/2006/Josh Estey

A mass grave where in the region of 3000 people are buried.
UNICEF UK/2006/Josh Estey

Day one

Visit to a mass grave

On day one, on the way to visit a UNICEF-supported children’s centre, Björk stopped off at one of the many mass graves in the region. The mass grave shown in the photograph holds around 3000 bodies.

We learned here that one of the reasons that such a vast number of people died in Aceh during the tsunami was that it is a Sunday tradition for Acehnese families to go to open spaces or beaches and stay all day playing and eating and enjoying their day of rest. This meant that people were exposed to the worst of the waves with no shelter to protect them.

Bodies were washed miles away and most people who lost members of their family can only guess which grave they may lie in and where they should go to pay their respects.

Many bodies were also lost to the sea when the waves finally receded.