President Prabowo is facing urgent calls to declare a national disaster status for the severe flash floods currently ravaging Aceh Province, along with parts of North Sumatra and West Sumatra. The catastrophic event has caused extensive damage to critical infrastructure and severely disrupted food distribution, pushing residents towards a looming food crisis and widespread starvation.
“The government must immediately declare a national emergency status for the natural disaster impacting numerous districts and cities across Aceh. The damage from this calamity is exceedingly severe, completely severing transportation links to various regions within Aceh,” stated Nurchalis, a Member of Commission III of the Aceh House of Representatives (DPRA), from Nagan Raya, Aceh, on Sunday, November 30th.
Nurchalis elaborated that the flash floods inundating multiple areas in Aceh have demolished bridges along national road networks in the province’s north-east coastal region. The disaster has also cut off vital bridge access and transportation routes to central and southeastern Aceh. Furthermore, it has isolated western Aceh from the central regions, specifically severing road and bridge access from Nagan Raya and Southwest Aceh.
According to Nurchalis, the immediate declaration of a national emergency for the Aceh disaster is imperative, as vast areas of the province remain completely isolated. Granting national disaster status would significantly streamline and facilitate efforts by the central government to repair the extensively damaged and severed infrastructure.
Dwindling Food Stocks
He warned that without the declaration of a national disaster status, a majority of flash flood victims and the wider population of Aceh face an inevitable fate of starvation and a deepening food crisis.
The far-reaching consequences of this natural disaster have led to a critical depletion of essential food stocks, stalled deliveries of fuel, and a significant disruption in the supply of basic necessities. The entire food supply chain, particularly to the most affected disaster zones, has been severely compromised.
“We fear that if this emergency situation is left unaddressed, undesirable outcomes will unfold in the disaster-stricken areas. Food and provision stocks are already alarmingly low, and the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure must commence immediately to prevent further disruptions to food supplies,” Nurchalis emphasized.
He also strongly urged the Aceh Provincial Government to act with greater urgency in dispatching food supplies, including rice and other basic necessities, to the natural disaster-affected regions, especially along Aceh’s southwest coast.
Nurchalis revealed that as of Sunday, November 30th, the Aceh Provincial Government had not delivered any aid to communities along Aceh’s west coast, specifically mentioning Nagan Raya Regency, West Aceh, Aceh Jaya, and the Simeulue Islands.
Based on reports he has received, the plight of flash flood victims in Aceh’s west coast, particularly in Nagan Raya and West Aceh, is dire and extremely concerning. While acknowledging the gravity of the situation, he also commended the swift and responsive actions of the Nagan Raya Regency Government, West Aceh Regency Government, Aceh Jaya, and Simeulue Island administrations for rapidly distributing emergency relief to the affected areas.
“While local governments have been commendably responsive in managing the disaster, I am deeply disappointed that the provincial government has not taken serious steps to channel aid to Aceh’s west coast. They must also recognize the severe impact the natural disaster has had on the communities along the west coast,” Nurchalis expressed.
He confirmed having contacted regional officials within the Aceh Provincial Government, pressing them to ensure that logistical aid for flash flood victims in Aceh’s west coast begins to be distributed starting this Sunday.
Summary
Severe flash floods in Aceh, along with parts of North and West Sumatra, have caused extensive infrastructure damage, severing vital transportation links and isolating numerous regions. This catastrophe has led to urgent calls for President Prabowo to declare a national disaster status. The declaration is deemed imperative by Nurchalis, a Member of the Aceh House of Representatives, to streamline central government efforts in repairing damaged infrastructure and prevent a looming food crisis.
The disaster has critically depleted essential food stocks and disrupted the entire food supply chain, raising fears of widespread starvation without immediate intervention. Nurchalis expressed disappointment with the Aceh Provincial Government for its slow response in delivering aid to the west coast as of November 30th, despite local governments acting swiftly. He stressed the necessity of urgent aid distribution and immediate infrastructure reconstruction to avert further disruptions to basic necessities.
