Floods: Anger Rises in Indonesia Over Slow Aid Response
Floods: Anger is rising in Indonesia due to the slow response of aid efforts in regions that are often still isolated, where over 750 people have died from the floods that also affected Sri Lanka, contributing to a total death toll exceeding 1,300.
Torrential monsoon rains, combined with two distinct tropical cyclones last week, unleashed heavy downpours on parts of Sumatra (Indonesia), as well as across Sri Lanka, southern Thailand, and northern Malaysia.
In Indonesia, the latest death toll stands at 753, with the number of missing persons continuing to rise, now reaching 650.
According to humanitarian organizations, the scale of the challenge is almost unprecedented, even for this vast country of 280 million inhabitants, which is regularly hit by natural disasters, such as the 2004 tsunami.
"Responding to this situation poses a considerable logistical challenge," stated Ade Soekadis, executive director of Mercy Corps Indonesia, a humanitarian organization. "The extent of the damage and the size of the affected area are truly immense."
He further warned, "The situation will become more problematic as time goes on."
- "Like an Earthquake" -
Reinaro Waruwu, 52, met by AFP at an evacuation center in Padan (North Sumatra), expressed his disappointment regarding the slow aid response.
"Some had to wait a day and a night before receiving help, and therefore could not be saved," he said.
"I am frustrated, no need to say it again. The response (from authorities) has been slow," he added.
Like many other victims, he describes an unprecedented catastrophe.
"It came like an earthquake... I thought, 'Well, if I have to die, so be it,'" he said, before breaking down in tears as he recalled how his neighbors were buried alive.
"It was the first time I saw such torrents rushing in," testified Hamida Telaumbaunua, a 37-year-old woman whose home was completely destroyed.
"It's hard to imagine what awaits us. As long as we are here, it might be okay, but after... I don't know what will happen," she continued.
The exceptional weather system that struck Indonesia also caused heavy rains in Thailand, resulting in at least 176 deaths, and in Malaysia, where two lives were lost.
Extensive areas of these countries, as well as the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, and parts of Cambodia and Laos, recorded rainfall totals not seen in November since 2012, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Almost the entire Sri Lanka also experienced record rainfall, according to AFP's analysis of these U.S. weather data.
Experts suggest that climate change is leading to more intense rain episodes because a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, and higher ocean temperatures can amplify storms.
- Sri Lanka "Open" to Tourists -
In Sri Lanka, the death toll is at least 465, with 366 missing and over 1.5 million displaced, marking the worst natural disaster the South Asian island has faced since the 2004 tsunami.
The government estimated on Wednesday that the cost of reconstruction would be between 6 and 7 billion dollars, in a country that has been in a fragile economic recovery phase since the historic crisis that devastated it in 2022.
The government general commissioner in charge of essential services, Prabath Chandrakeerthi, announced the allocation of 2.5 million Sri Lankan rupees (7,500 euros) to each family whose home was destroyed, and 25,000 rupees (75 euros) for all those who need to clean their homes.
Unlike Indonesia, Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency and called for international assistance.
Despite the catastrophe, the island, which heavily relies on tourism, welcomed a luxury cruise ship to the port of Colombo on Tuesday.
This arrival sends "a clear message to the whole world: Sri Lanka is safe, open, and ready to welcome visitors again," stated the country's tourism office.
AFP