ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — Indonesia’s House of Representatives is urging the central government to immediately deploy large-scale emergency assistance to Aceh and several parts of Sumatra that remain isolated following devastating flash floods and landslides.
The call was delivered by Commission V member Irmawan, after receiving reports that mass hunger is emerging, with social conditions rapidly deteriorating in some affected areas.
Irmawan stressed that the humanitarian situation has entered a critical emergency phase. Many districts have been cut off for more than a week without food supplies, while primary logistics routes have been completely severed.
“Many areas have been isolated for over a week with no food. People are surviving by eating raw bananas. Food stocks are gone, aid hasn’t arrived, and residents are starving. In some places, looting has begun,” he said on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
Infrastructure Collapses, Villages Swept Away
Irmawan reported severe and widespread infrastructure damage. National roads have been destroyed, not only buried by landslides but washed away entirely by flood currents. Several villages were reportedly wiped out by flash floods.
“Large sections of the roads are completely gone. If there were five bridges, all five disappeared. If there were ten, all ten were washed away,” said the PKB legislator.
With ground access cut off, the only way to deliver vital supplies is via helicopter, but the current fleet is far from sufficient to reach hundreds of thousands—potentially over a million—affected residents.
Meets the Criteria for National Disaster Status
According to Irmawan, the scale of destruction, the rising number of vulnerable survivors, and the growing social risks clearly meet the elements required to designate the situation as a National Disaster.
“This is not an ordinary disaster. Many people are calling it a ‘land tsunami.’ Declaring a National Disaster is crucial so the central government can fully mobilize emergency response, rehabilitation, and reconstruction,” he stated.
He warned that without immediate intervention, further casualties may occur not only from the floods but from starvation, disease, and escalating social vulnerabilities.
Local Governments Overwhelmed: No Power, No Fuel, No Communication
Irmawan noted that several local governments have acknowledged they are unable to manage the crisis on their own. Electricity remains out, health facilities are operating at minimum capacity, fuel supplies are depleted, and communications networks have collapsed in several districts, blocking situational reports from reaching authorities.
The situation became even more concerning when reports surfaced that aid from Malaysia had arrived earlier than assistance from the Indonesian government.
“This should not happen. The central government has the capacity to handle a disaster of this magnitude,” Irmawan emphasized.
Isolated Zones Must Be Treated as Top Priority
Parliament is coordinating with party networks to map evacuation sites. However, several regions—such as Bireuen and Aceh Tamiang—remain unreachable due to communication breakdowns.
“Evacuation sites that are easy to access have received assistance. But isolated areas urgently need to be treated as top priority,” he concluded. (AT Network)
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