THICK DUST, MUD BLANKET ACEH TAMIANG AS RESIDENTS RISE FROM FLOOD DEVASTATION

By Hasnah Jusid

ACEH, Dec 19 (Bernama) -- 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.

A Bernama correspondent who visited the regency on a humanitarian mission saw at first hand the devastating impact of the floods. The Nov 26 floods affected three provinces: Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

“If the (2004) tsunami had only struck coastal areas, this flood destroyed many places. towns and hills alike,” said resident Juriah Nasution, 30, from Kampung Minuran, Bukit Rata.

Aceh Tamiang, located on the easternmost part of Aceh province, about 130 kilometres from Medan and about 3 hours by car, has become a 'city of mud,' showing just how severe the floods were and why it was one of the hardest-hit areas.

As widely shared on social media, along a 40-kilometre stretch of a main road, houses were seen swept onto street shoulders, while schools, police stations, mosques, and government offices have also been severely damaged.

The floods also hit oil palm farms, leaving some crops dead or ruined after being submerged.

“My house was destroyed, the place where I raised 14 children vanished in an instant,” said Maidirhana Suritsino, 62, also from Bukit Rata, who was waiting with her child in a queue to receive clothing aid at Al-Muhyiddin Mosque in Minuran, Aceh Tamiang.

With clean water and food supplies in short supply, tanker lorries ferrying water were seen entering affected areas, while public kitchens were set up to prepare meals for affected residents.

Dozens of disaster operations centres have been set up to channel aid, and rows of temporary tents were erected in various locations, including near elevated bridges.

People wore face masks as the drying mud became dusty, while aid from various parties continued to arrive to ease the burden on flood victims, despite severely damaged, dusty roads.

Even with all the destruction, residents in this area, known as the gateway to Aceh province, have shown resilience as they slowly rebuild their daily lives.

In the town of Kuala Simpang, for example, traders have started cleaning their shops, and several eateries have resumed operations, even though traces of mud remain clearly visible and businesses are operating under tough conditions.

Temporary tent settlements set up by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) continue to be used as shelters for people who lost their homes, alongside mosques and public facilities converted into evacuation centres.

However, the overwhelming number of flood victims made it impossible to provide tents for everyone, forcing some to seek shelter on their own.

“I’ve been moving from place to place for three weeks looking for shelter. Now I’m staying in a shop with my two-year-old child,” Juriah said.

As of yesterday, BNPB reported that 1,068 people were killed in the disaster, 190 are still missing, and over 7,000 have been injured.

A humanitarian aid mission to Sumatra by Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCARE) and Econsave Johor began yesterday and will continue until Dec 23, focusing on providing clean water, food, and daily necessities.

Those wishing to contribute to disaster relief efforts may donate via MyCARE’s account number 8602135592 (CIMB).

-- BERNAMA