L'Aquila kids recall earthquake experience

Seven months after the terrible earthquake that hit Italy's Abruzzo region on April 6, children from San Giacomo, a small town in L'Aquila, are still reeling from its impact.

Giovanni, 12, remembered with fear that tragic night when the quake shook the area, killing 289 people and leaving more than 4000 homeless.

"I was sleeping (at that time). My parents woke me up and we ran out of our house," Giovanni said.

Everything happened so quickly that he hardly had time to realize what was going on, he recalled.

Afterwards, Giovanni and his family camped for several nights in their back garden and then were moved by the government, together with other homeless families, to a hotel on the Adriatic coast where they were hosted for two months.

His 15-year-old elder brother Giuseppe said, "It was terrible, the ground kept shaking and we had no idea what had happened."

The brothers now are living in the neighborhood of San Giacomo, on the outskirts of L'Aquila, since their house was rendered uninhabitable by the quake.

While awaiting new anti-quake homes funded by the government, they are staying at Don Antonio's, a South-American priest who has offered much help to San Giacomo kids to overcome the tragedy.

"Thanks to Don Antonio we have a bed to sleep in," said Monia Bucci, Giovanni's 38-year-old mother. "My husband works all day and it's really tough but at least we are alive."

In San Giacomo, Antonio's church, damaged in the earthquake, was turned into an aid center for food and primary goods distribution. Here, every day, Giovanni and his friends meet, sing, play and spend their time together.

Leonardo Petrucci, 23, a White Cross volunteer, was among the first group of rescuers that arrived at the hit-areas straight after the quake. Now he is assisting Antonio and is in charge of distributing goods and food to the local community.

"Unfortunately there are many shortages," he said. "We need more oil, baby-food and shoes. People here are still lacking some basic things and it's a real pity."

Leonardo added that "you realize what has really happened only after a long time, and now even if the tragedy is over you see how dramatic the influence is."

San Giacomo was just a least-hit area of the L'Aquila city. Even so, many houses were damaged and declared off-limits by the authorities. Several families, including Giovanni's, are still waiting for the government's new houses, which are expected to be assigned in December.

In September, the Italian government allocated the first group of new homes in the hardest-hit towns near L'Aquila.

Leonardo, however, could not get a new house because he already owns a wooden structure built by his father, owner of a small construction firm.

Seven months have passed and the children have thus recovered their smile and zest. But life remains difficult, as many are still staying in tents with limited financial resources available.

The upcoming winter season will also be tough for the quake victims as the temperature will fall sharply and nearly all homes in the area can provide heating solely with electric heaters. It still takes time for gas service to be restored.

Source:Xinhua