Nurlela Agusfitri is among those left with nothing after devastating floods swept through Aceh Tamiang, Aceh, resulting in over 1,000 confirmed deaths.
Devastation in Aceh
Nearly three weeks after the deluge, 40-year-old Nurlela searches through debris in Pengidam village, where she previously ran a kiosk selling cooking oil and sugar. She fled with her two children as floodwaters rose, only to return to find her home and livelihood destroyed.
“I saw my house destroyed, swept away by the water. My belongings were scattered everywhere,” Nurlela told AFP. “I cried when I saw it. Oh God, it was so difficult for me to build this house. Where will I go after this?”
As of Tuesday, the death toll stands at 1,030, with another 205 people still missing. The disaster has dramatically altered the landscape, burying villages under wooden logs and mud, and wiping out palm oil plantations that once sustained local families. Villager Cahyo Aulia, 31, reported that his home was flattened by logs, and that “People don’t even recognize the boundaries of their homes around here.”
Mounting Frustration and Calls for Aid
Frustration is growing over the pace of relief efforts, prompting demands for Jakarta to declare a national disaster and allow international assistance. Student groups and civil society organizations protested in Banda Aceh on Tuesday, calling for a swifter response and greater mobilization of national resources. Protesters carried placards stating a formal declaration was “non-negotiable.”
President Prabowo Subianto stated on Monday that Jakarta has sufficient capacity to respond, noting that the disaster affected only three of Indonesia’s 38 provinces. He announced the formation of a task force for rehabilitation and reconstruction, but confirmed that offers of foreign assistance had been declined.
Surya Firdaus, founder of the Beulangong Raja Aceh Foundation, urged Jakarta to “lower its ego and accept foreign aid,” arguing that collaboration is essential. The provincial government in Aceh has already reached out to UN agencies, recalling the helpful foreign assistance provided after the 2004 tsunami. UNICEF Indonesia and the United Nations Development Programme are assessing needs and potential support.
Revi Rinaldi, 45, whose food stall now shelters his family, recalled that foreign assistance was “very helpful” in the 2004 recovery, and expressed concern over the current situation. Nurlela, back in Pengidam, faces an uncertain future, stating, “We are wondering where we’ll go after this if there’s no government assistance.” She added that even with housing assistance, there is “no land anymore.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current death toll from the floods?
The latest government figures, issued on Tuesday, report 1,030 deaths and 205 people still missing.
What is the government’s current stance on international aid?
President Prabowo Subianto has stated that Jakarta has sufficient capacity to respond and has declined offers of foreign assistance.
What was the situation like for residents before the floods?
Dozens of families in Nurlela’s village relied on palm oil plantations and livestock farming for their livelihoods.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the government will reconsider its position on international aid, and how quickly rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts will progress for communities like Pengidam.
