Impact Of Severe Flood Makes Malaysian NGO’s Aid Mission To Aceh Increasingly Challenging

By Noor Bakhtiar Ahmad

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 (Bernama) -- Conditions in Aceh Tamiang, Aceh, Indonesia, have been described as extremely serious, with thick mud blanketing the area and completely paralysing commercial and social activities, according to the non-governmental organisation (NGO) I Relief and Humanitarian Outreach Malaysia (iReach), which is currently operating on the ground.

iReach Malaysia director Johan Ariff Ismail said residential and commercial premises in the area were destroyed, while hospitals, schools and mosques were submerged under three to four metres of water.

“This area has been severely affected, covered in thick mud and paralysing all commercial and social activities,” he told Bernama when contacted on Wednesday.

Johan Ariff and seven iReach volunteers are currently in Aceh Tamiang regency to deliver assistance to flood victims in the affected areas.

The team is also working with Yayasan Rumah Zakat Indonesia, which has deployed 30 local volunteers for logistical support.

According to Johan Ariff, the immediate aid sent by iReach includes ready-to-eat food, rice, and generators as key necessities for the affected communities.

However, he added that limited access to certain areas in Aceh Tamiang, Bolga, and Tanah Tinggi Takengon remains the main challenge for the relief team he leads.

“Landslides have severed the main road, leaving several locations inaccessible, and food aid deliveries had to be carried out using a helicopter,” he said.

He added that besides initial assistance, iReach is currently collecting funds to support the relief operation centre in Aceh Tamiang until the first phase of the mission ends on December 31.

“This relief operation centre will also distribute ready-to-eat meals, basic food boxes, medicine, hygiene kits, and utility equipment such as generators and communication systems (Starlink).

“Members of the public who wish to contribute may channel their donations to Maybank account 553038585368, I Relief and Humanitarian Outreach,” he said.

According to an official report by Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), as of Saturday (Dec 6), major floods and landslides in three provinces in Sumatra – Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra – have resulted in 914 deaths, while 389 people remain missing.

-- BERNAMA