Malaysian team travels hours and uses boats to deliver food supplies, mattresses and essential items to impacted villages
PETALING JAYA: Five tonnes of emergency supplies from Malaysia have been delivered to remote flood-hit villages in Aceh Tamiang, Indonesia, providing the first outside assistance in weeks to communities cut off after access roads were destroyed by severe flooding.
Persatuan Amal Tulus Misi Sukarelawan (ATMS) president Arashid Ramli said a team of 30 volunteers rendered aid to about 500 affected families during a four-day mission that began on Thursday.
“We went with the spirit of kita serumpun (we are of one family) to help our brothers and sisters suffering after the floods.”
He said the team departed Penang International Airport at 8pm and arrived in Medan at about 10pm the same day.
“Upon arrival, we were welcomed by local representatives and immediately proceeded to our accommodation using eight vehicles and three lorries carrying food supplies, mattresses, household items and other essentials contributed by association members and Malaysian corporations.”
Arashid said the mission officially began the next day but access to the interior villages was severely hampered.
“Our team had to travel for nearly four hours and we faced major difficulties entering the villages,” he said.
“We were eventually forced to use boats to transport supplies through muddy oil palm plantations because the main land route had been cut off,” he added.
The humanitarian effort comes as Indonesia continues post-disaster operations following widespread floods and landslides late last year.
The Indonesian National Agency for Disaster Management said 14 regencies in Aceh have entered the emergency transition phase, while four regencies – Central Aceh, Gayo Lues, Aceh Tamiang and Pidie Jaya – remain under emergency response status as recovery work continues, particularly to restore land access routes and distribute logistics to remote communities.
At the provincial level, Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf has extended the province’s emergency response status until Jan 22 to allow search and rescue operations to continue, the agency reported.
Arashid said conditions in several areas remain critical.
“From our observations, many residents are still traumatised, with destruction reaching almost 100% in some areas, leaving them without regular food supplies,” he said.
Villages that received assistance included Kampung Tanjung Belumpang, Kampung Sungai Liput, Kampung Pangkalan Belanda Langkat and Kampung Bandung Jaya.
“Our arrival was met with tears of gratitude and residents told us they had not received any outside aid until now because of how remote and isolated their locations are.”
Arashid said a medical team, led by Dr Noorul Redzuan Mahboob Ali from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health conducted mobile health screenings in each village.
“We ensured basic medical check-ups were carried out to ensure the welfare and health of the villagers,” he said.
The 5,000kg supplies delivered included daily necessities and ready-to-eat food, he added.
“We also distributed 1,000 packets of bread specifically for children, provided cash assistance to affected families and made a contribution to the Tamiang Hulu Mosque,” he said.
Arashid said the mission was funded by donations from Malaysians.
“The success of this mission is the result of donations from Malaysians who continue to show deep concern for those in need.
“We hope this assistance will help the residents slowly rebuild their lives,” he said.
