Aceh tamiang: Nearly three weeks after massive floods struck Sumatra, including Aceh Tamiang Regency, residents here have little choice but to begin rebuilding their lives, even as they are surrounded by debris, trash, thick mud, and, most painfully, the loss of their homes.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, a correspondent who visited the regency on a humanitarian mission witnessed the devastating impact of the floods. The November 26 floods affected three provinces: Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
A local resident, Juriah Nasution, 30, from Kampung Minuran, Bukit Rata, noted that while the 2004 tsunami impacted only coastal areas, the recent flood destroyed towns and hills, indicating the widespread nature of the disaster.
Aceh Tamiang, situated on the easternmost part of Aceh province, approximately 130 kilometers from Medan, has become known as a 'city of mud' due to the severe flooding, making it one of the hardest-hit areas.
Social media posts have shown that along a 40-kilometer stretch of a main road, houses were swept onto street shoulders, and essential infrastructure like schools, police stations, mosques, and government offices have suffered severe damage.
The flooding also impacted agricultural areas, with oil palm farms experiencing significant crop loss after being submerged.
Maidirhana Suritsino, 62, from Bukit Rata, shared her personal loss of a home where she raised 14 children, while waiting for clothing aid at Al-Muhyiddin Mosque in Minuran, Aceh Tamiang.
With shortages of clean water and food supplies, tanker lorries have been delivering water to affected areas, and public kitchens have been set up to provide meals for residents.
Numerous disaster operations centers have been established to distribute aid, with temporary tents erected in various locations, including near elevated bridges.
As the mud dries and becomes dusty, residents have been wearing face masks, and aid continues to arrive to support flood victims despite damaged roads.
In the midst of destruction, residents, known for their resilience, are gradually rebuilding their lives. In Kuala Simpang, traders are cleaning their shops, and some eateries have resumed, although traces of mud remain and conditions are challenging.
Temporary tent settlements by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) are serving as shelters for those who lost homes, along with mosques and public facilities turned into evacuation centers. However, the high number of flood victims means not everyone has received tents, forcing some to find their own shelter.
Juriah shared her struggle of moving from place to place for three weeks in search of shelter, now staying in a shop with her two-year-old child.
As of yesterday, BNPB reported 1,068 deaths, 190 missing, and over 7,000 injured due to the disaster.
A humanitarian mission by Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCARE) and Econsave Johor began yesterday and will continue until December 23, providing clean water, food, and daily necessities. Donations for disaster relief can be made via MyCARE's account number 8602135592 (CIMB).