Hope Rises For Sumatra Flood Victims As New Year Begins

JAKARTA, Jan 2 (Bernama) -- The new year arrives in Sumatra with a renewed sense of hope for thousands of families rebuilding their lives after devastating floods and landslides in late November last year, as communities, volunteers and authorities continue to work together towards recovery.

Across the island, signs of recovery are becoming increasingly visible, from aid convoys moving steadily through affected towns to neighbours helping one another clear debris, rebuild homes and restore a sense of normalcy after months of hardship.

For Thomas Sitakar, the constant sight of aid-laden vehicles passing daily through his hometown of Sukaramai in Pakpak Bharat, North Sumatra, has offered some reassurance amid the devastation.

Working in Jakarta, the 27-year-old returned home recently to visit friends and family, an experience that also allowed him to witness the scale of the disaster first-hand. Sukaramai lies along the main road leading to some of the worst-hit areas, placing him directly in the path of ongoing relief efforts.

“Although my parents’ house was not affected, as a Sumatran, I felt the pain of those who lost everything.

“My house is about seven hours’ drive from Aceh. Every day, trucks carrying aid passed by. The nearby petrol station was also crowded; once, I had to wait almost three hours just to refuel.

“I really hope the aid reaches all affected areas and is not concentrated in just one location. It is not only Aceh that suffered,” he said when met recently.

Media reported that the floods and landslides that struck Sumatra in late November claimed more than 1,000 lives, with 165 people still missing.

According to Indonesia’s National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB), the disaster destroyed at least 166,925 houses, leaving residents in 52 cities and regencies homeless. A further 53,555 homes were severely damaged, 41,925 sustained moderate damage and 71,445 suffered minor damage.

Infrastructure was also badly affected, with 215 health facilities, 3,188 schools, 803 places of worship and 34 bridges damaged.

Another Sumatran living in Jakarta, Rahmadi, 29, said his hometown of Lembah Anai in West Sumatra was also inundated by floods along with parts of North Sumatra.

“The entire village of about 30 houses was wiped out. Nothing is left. My parents’ house is around four kilometres from the affected area. Thankfully, they were safe,” he said.

As the new year begins, Rahmadi said his thoughts remain with friends and neighbours who were directly affected, expressing hope that survivors across Sumatra will receive continued assistance to help them rebuild their lives.

In solidarity with the victims, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto marked the start of the new year by visiting several disaster-hit areas in northern Sumatra to oversee post-disaster recovery efforts.

He also directed his staff to prioritise the repair of schools, hospitals and community health centres damaged by flash floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra, while accelerating the construction of shelters for evacuees, reported ANTARA news agency. 

Prabowo affirmed that the government provided adequate relief even without declaring a "national disaster" emergency status, and praised Danantara, the national sovereign wealth fund for completing 600 temporary housing units within eight days.

-- BERNAMA