The
Indonesian Red Cross (Palang Merah Indonesia – PMI) is
distributing vital relief supplies to tens of thousands of people
who have been affected by extensive flooding along the east
coast of Aceh and Northern Sumatra in Indonesia.
Two days of continuous and torrential rain left much of the
region under water. In some areas downpours triggered mudslides
and washed away roads and bridges, making access often impossible
by land. 60 people have been confirmed dead and a further 178
are missing.
Initial PMI assessments of the scope of the devastation suggest
that almost 400,000 people have been affected in Aceh and North
Sumatra.
Aulia, a young PMI volunteer, is based in the seriously flood-affected
village of Kota Kuala Simpang in Aceh Tamiang district.
“Up to three metres of flood water has inundated the village,
but fortunately the water is beginning to subside,” said
Aulia. “Most people evacuated their houses some days ago
and many houses have since been swept away.”
According to Aulia, the most urgent needs of affected communities
are for food, tents, medical teams and medicines.
Harun Al Rashid, the International Federation’s Disaster
Management delegate in Banda Aceh, says PMI volunteers and staff
are working in close cooperation with other humanitarian agencies
in an effort to ensure that immediate needs are being met.
“UN helicopters are dropping supplies in some hard-to-reach
areas, and PMI volunteers are working with communities to ensure
that the supplies are quickly distributed,” he said.
PMI volunteers have so far distributed more than one and a half
tonnes of relief materials that have been dropped by UN helicopters,
with further drops planned. An agreement with the World Bank
will see volunteers distribute a further five tonnes of food
and medicines over the coming days.
In addition, twelve International Federation trucks have been
dispatched from Banda Aceh to the affected region, each of them
laden with emergency supplies provided by the World Food Programme
(WFP).
Though flood waters are now receding, heavy rain has been forecast
for the coming days and further deluges could see the situation
deteriorate quickly.
|
 |
 |
|
|
An
Acehnese mother cries as she cleans her house after a
flood in the village of Kuala Simpang.
Photo courtesy by REUTERS/Alertnet
Photographer: Tarmizy Harva
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Villagers
travel in a boat through floodwaters in the village of
Pelawi in Aceh province.
Photo courtesy by REUTERS/Alertnet
Photographer: Stringer Indonesia
|
|
News
