People in the Indonesian province of Aceh have paid tribute to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan on the 14th anniversary of the disaster.



The province has been interacting with Japanese communities affected by the 2011 disaster. Aceh itself suffered devastating damage in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that left more than 160,000 people dead or missing.



More than 40 people attended the ceremony on Tuesday at an orphanage near the province's capital, Banda Aceh. The facility was built with support from Japan. Children there and the Japanese consul-general for the region were among those who observed a moment of silence.



A local woman who lived in Japan in 2011 gave a speech. She worked as a volunteer in Minamisanriku Town, Miyagi Prefecture, preparing food for affected people. She stressed the importance of providing help if a disaster occurs now. She said, "If you can help, help even if it is small."



The participants then wrote messages on paper cranes made by the children for disaster victims in northeastern Japan.



A local student said she wrote in her message, "Japan with the people of Aceh."



Aceh is facing the challenge of how to pass on memories and lessons of the tsunami, as the number of people who were born after the disaster is increasing.