Floods in Indonesia: Nearly 1,000 Dead and Over 220 Missing

Devastating floods in Indonesia have resulted in nearly 1,000 fatalities, according to preliminary reports from authorities on Thursday. Hundreds of thousands of people are suffering from shortages and are complaining that aid is slow to arrive.

Approximately 990 individuals lost their lives in the floods that ravaged the northwest region of Sumatra, and over 220 people remain missing, as reported by Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the disaster prevention agency.

Tropical storms and monsoon rains have hit Southeast Asia and South Asia this month, causing landslides and flash floods, with more rainfall expected.

In Aceh province, Sumatra, which experienced a devastating tsunami in 2004, residents are desperately trying to rebuild their lives, but frustrations and anger are growing as aid has yet to arrive.

"People don’t know who to rely on," explains Syahrul, 39, a resident of Bireuen, a city in the north where destruction is widespread.

Residents have "lost all hope (...) even the hope of trying to have hope. At this point, they can no longer count on the government at all, considering how the situation has been managed," he tells AFP.

In Lhokseumawe, nearby, the population is still struggling to contain mud flows.

"Nearly 15 days after the flood, we have only managed to clean the inside of our house," says Sariyulis, 36, to AFP.

"Outside, we can’t do anything because of the mud," he adds, explaining that most flood victims complain about the lack of assistance from the authorities.

"We keep hearing that each province can manage the floods, but we are living the exact opposite," he laments. "More than two weeks later, we are still facing the same problems (...) The progress made (...) is minimal."

Emergency measures currently in place need to be extended by two weeks "to effectively carry out urgent reconstruction and repairs of infrastructure," stated Muzakir Munaf, the governor of Aceh, to the press.

However, the most urgent need is for medicine, as people are falling ill, he added, "our communities are suffering from skin diseases, coughs, itching, and other ailments."

The cost of reconstruction could reach 51.82 trillion rupiah (3.1 billion dollars), and the Indonesian government is currently refusing to seek international aid.