While the people in Hatyai, Thailand, are still recovering from the aftermath of the flood, those in Aceh, Indonesia, are also struggling to live with the consequences of the same disaster.
The flood victims in Aceh are seeking help from Malaysian Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim for essential supplies, especially food.
Many victims, while struggling to rebuild their lives, have to battle something else – hunger. The flood destroyed multiple areas in Central Aceh, causing internet cuts and inaccessible roads, as well as depleting essential supplies.
Children, pregnant mothers are battling hunger
According to an Instagram post that is currently circulating, the supplies couldn’t be delivered to the victims by land. All roads are inaccessible, with 20 connecting bridges completely damaged due to the landslide caused by the heavy downpour and flooding.
The supplies can only be delivered by air, but the supplies are running out soon.
According to the post, flood victims in Aceh, which include children and pregnant women, are pleading with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to deliver supplies via a helicopter.
“We are hungry. We haven’t received any help for five days.”
In a report by BBC Indonesia, 13 tons of rice were distributed by the Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, on Monday (1 December). The residents, however, said that the supplies can only last up to three days.
A total of 22 people were reported dead due to the disaster, and 23 are still missing.
Floods and landslides have damaged 2,218 houses in Aceh and forced 37,129 residents to evacuate. One of the worst-affected areas was in Buntul, where the residents in the area described the situation as “a village on a mountain that has come down.”
At the time of writing (3 December), PMX has yet to respond to the call for help.
