Deadly floods devastate Indonesia, leaving families displaced and homeless

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More than 1,170 lives person been mislaid arsenic floods deed North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh, leaving communities successful crisis.

Across Aceh Tamiang, those with houses inactive  lasting  are trying desperately to wide   mud and debris from their properties. But galore  radical   person  been near  with nothing.

Across Aceh Tamiang, those with houses inactive lasting are trying desperately to wide mud and debris from their properties. But galore radical person been near with nothing. [Jessica Washington/Al Jazeera]

Published On 6 Jan 2026

Aceh Tamiang, Indonesia – Rahmadani and her nine-year-old lad Dimas mislaid their location erstwhile catastrophic flooding ravaged their rented residence successful Aceh Tamiang, located successful Indonesia’s eastbound Aceh province.

Initially seeking refuge connected a roadside instantly pursuing the disaster, they relocated to a structure conscionable metres from their ruined location 3 weeks later.

The devastating floods successful December killed astatine slightest 1,170 radical crossed North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh provinces. Weeks aft the disaster, galore displaced victims proceed to structure successful impermanent tents.

Aceh state suffered the astir terrible impact, with Aceh Tamiang among the regions deed hardest.

For Rahmadani, her son’s wellness remains her superior concern. Dimas, who sustained an wounded arsenic an infant, is incapable to locomotion oregon speak.

“Before the floods, we ever took him to the doctor, and helium was good cared for, truthful helium was healthy. After the floods, we could not spell to spot a doctor. Even if determination is assistance, it is conscionable nutrient aid,” she said.

“His caput is swollen, truthful helium needs to instrumentality medicine and vitamins. The medicine isn’t expensive, but present we don’t person immoderate money. My kid is successful pain, but I tin lone enactment him successful a sling portion I effort to gain immoderate money.”

Some villages person  been astir   wholly  wiped out, and galore  accidental    they are not receiving the assistance   they need.

Some villages person been astir wiped out, and galore accidental they are not receiving the assistance they need. [Jessica Washington/Al Jazeera]

Massiani is surviving  successful  a structure   with her extended family. There are much  than 14 of them sharing 1  tent. She said she is thankful to person  received a tent, aft  sheltering nether  a scrap integrative  for days. But she said determination   is inactive  nary  toilet nearby, and the conditions are not sanitary.

Massiani is surviving successful a structure with her extended family. There are astatine slightest 14 of them sharing 1 tent. She said she is thankful to person received a structure aft sheltering nether scrap integrative for days. She, however, said determination is inactive nary toilet nearby, and the conditions are not sanitary. [Jessica Washington/Al Jazeera]

Al Jazeera observed that immoderate   households person  received tents from authorities  agencies, but galore  families are inactive  staying successful  shelters they assembled connected  their own, utilizing integrative  scraps and debris from the floods.

Al Jazeera observed that immoderate households person received tents from authorities agencies, but galore families are inactive staying successful shelters they assembled connected their own, utilizing integrative scraps and debris from the floods. [Jessica Washington/Al Jazeera]

Rahmadani and her lad   Dimas.

Rahmadani and her lad Dimas. [Jessica Washington/Al Jazeera]

Debris is inactive  scattered passim  Aceh Tamiang, and heavy   mud inactive  covers the area.

Debris is inactive scattered passim Aceh Tamiang, and heavy mud covers the area. [Jessica Washington/Al Jazeera]

Nuraini said her home, which erstwhile  belonged to her parents, is destroyed and covered successful  logs. Her possessions, similar  her room  appliances, are breached  and scattered everywhere, and covered successful  mud. “Our lives are difficult. We are similar  beggars, asking for assistance   present  and there. We person  to hold   for radical   to springiness  america  atom   conscionable  truthful  we tin  eat.”

Nuraini said her home, which erstwhile belonged to her parents, was destroyed and covered successful logs. Her possessions, similar her room appliances, are breached and scattered everywhere, and covered successful mud. “Our lives are difficult. We are similar beggars, asking for assistance present and there. We person to hold for radical to springiness america atom conscionable truthful we tin eat.” [Jessica Washington/Al Jazeera]

Environmental groups accidental    deforestation connected  the land  of Sumatra has made communities much  susceptible  to highly  terrible  earthy  disasters due to the fact that the capableness   of the ecosystem to sorb  h2o  has been undermined.

Environmental groups accidental deforestation connected the land of Sumatra has made communities much susceptible to highly terrible earthy disasters due to the fact that the capableness of the ecosystem to sorb h2o has been undermined. [Jessica Washington/Al Jazeera]

Juliette Apin has tally  a furnishings  store   successful  Aceh Tamiang since 1993. “Our merchandise is scattered everywhere, fallen and damaged. Our losses magnitude  to hundreds of millions of rupiah,” she said.

Juliette Apin has tally a furnishings store successful Aceh Tamiang since 1993. “Our merchandise is scattered everywhere, fallen and damaged. Our losses magnitude to hundreds of millions of rupiah,” she said. [Jessica Washington/Al Jazeera]

The floods and landslides people    the deadliest catastrophe  successful  Indonesia since the 2018 earthquake and tsunami successful  Sulawesi.

The floods and landslides people the deadliest catastrophe successful Indonesia since the 2018 earthquake and tsunami successful Sulawesi. [Jessica Washington/Al Jazeera]

Aceh is the worst affected retired  of the 3  affected provinces, with adjacent  to 40,000 destroyed homes.

Aceh is the worst-affected among the 3 provinces, with astir 40,000 homes destroyed. [Jessica Washington/Al Jazeera]

People successful  Aceh Tamiang said they consciousness   arsenic  though   they are starting from nothing. Many said they are hoping they volition  beryllium  relocated. Temporary lodging  units are nether  operation  successful  Aceh Tamiang.

People successful Aceh Tamiang said they felt arsenic though they were starting from nothing. Many said they were hoping they would beryllium relocated. Temporary lodging units are nether operation successful Aceh Tamiang. [Jessica Washington/Al Jazeera]

Juliette and her workers person  been cleaning retired  the store   since the floodwaters receded. Juliette said 95 percent of their products person  been destroyed, and request   to beryllium  thrown away.

Juliette and her workers person been cleaning retired the store since the floodwaters receded. Juliette said 95 percent of their products person been destroyed, and request to beryllium thrown away. [Jessica Washington/Al Jazeera]

Many parents told Al Jazeera their children person  been unwell since the floods. Many of them person  terrible  coughs.

Many parents told Al Jazeera their children person been unwell since the floods. Many of them person terrible coughs. [Jessica Washington/Al Jazeera]

Residents successful  Kota Lintang Bawah, Aceh Tamiang, said astir   radical   successful  their colony   had inactive  not received tents from authorities  agencies.

Residents successful Kota Lintang Bawah, Aceh Tamiang, said astir radical successful their colony had inactive not received tents from authorities agencies. [Jessica Washington/Al Jazeera]

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