ACEH FLOOD VICTIMS NEED PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT

DUNGUN, Jan 5 (Bernama) -- Flood victims in Aceh, Indonesia continue to need support, especially in terms of psychosocial assistance, following the worst disaster to hit the region two months ago.

The head of the Flood Disaster Relief Mission in Aceh, Faiz Qayyuum Abd Majid, said that in an effort to support the victims who are still traumatised, 10 volunteer members representing non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from Malaysia were in Batang Ara, Aceh Tamiang district from Dec 31 until Jan 3.

He said the youth volunteers involved in the aid mission were the result of a strategic collaboration among various NGOs, including the Volunteering Trip Malaysia (VTM), Pertubuhan Jiwa Amal Malaysia (JIWA), IMPAK Malaysia, Satria MIVEC, Malaysian Relief Agency (MRA), Pertubuhan Kebajikan Amanah Prihatin (PKAP), Kelab Belia Tinagayan (KEBAT) and The Helmis Warrior.

"Our presence here is also to ensure that the victims know they are not alone in facing this crisis," he told Bernama here today.

He said that the month following a disaster is typically the most challenging phase for victims as global attention begins to wane and they are forced to face the crisis with decreasing assistance.

Faiz Qayyuum said the main challenge of the mission is the completely paralysed infrastructure in most affected areas, including access to clean water and electricity, which has not yet been restored.

That situation not only complicates the daily lives of the victims but also demands high physical and mental resilience from the line of volunteers operating with minimal facilities.

"The still rainy weather conditions also forced the team to remain on high alert and disrupted the smooth management of logistics, entering and exiting the affected villages," he said.

He also said that throughout the mission, the volunteer team carried out comprehensive work at the evacuation centre, including distributing baby kits and women's hygiene kits.

He added that the mission was also strengthened by the provision of ready-to-eat meals through a community kitchen for approximately 500 victims, sports activities to treat children's trauma, and a free haircut service to boost the morale of the residents.

One of the youth volunteers from Dungun who participated in the mission, Syafiqah Nabihah Shamsul Bahri, said her first mission abroad gave her a deeply moving experience.

“A feeling of sadness overwhelmed me when I saw the suffering of our brothers and sisters, affected by the disaster, who were forced to live in darkness without electricity and with a shortage of clean water.

"Although I was nervous about facing the challenges on the ground, I was determined to give my best to ensure that every aid reached the victims and brought a little ray of hope," he said.

The media had reported that the floods and landslides that hit Sumatra in late November claimed over 1,000 lives, with 165 people still missing, while over 250,000 residents were forced to evacuate.

 According to Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Aceh Tamiang recorded the second-highest number of people displaced, approximately 115,000, after North Aceh, which recorded 166,900 people.

-- BERNAMA