Disaster Response Intensifies in Indonesia and Sri Lanka Amid Flood Devastation

Post by : Mina Rahman

Today, rescue units in Indonesia and Sri Lanka are working tirelessly to reach those stranded in remote areas devastated by floods and landslides, with the death toll across four affected nations now exceeding 1,300.

In Indonesia, many survivors are expressing frustration regarding the sluggish pace of rescue efforts and the delivery of necessary aid. Humanitarian organizations have labeled this calamity as unprecedented, even for a country accustomed to natural disasters.

Following heavy monsoon rains and two rare tropical storm systems, record rainfall has impacted parts of Sri Lanka, Sumatra in Indonesia, southern Thailand, and northern Malaysia. Indonesia confirms 753 fatalities, with 650 individuals still unaccounted for.

Ade Soekadis, executive director of Mercy Corps Indonesia, stated, “The magnitude of the devastation and scope of impact is tremendous. Food and water shortages are increasingly alarming, and the situation is likely to deteriorate further.”

In an evacuation center in Padan, a survivor named Reinaro Waruwu described the harrowing experience: “It felt like an earthquake,” he said, recalling neighbors trapped beneath the debris. Many have been left waiting excessively for relief aid.

Hamida Telaumbaunua, 37, shared her heart-wrenching story of losing her home to the floods, remarking, “This is my first experience with such a flood. It’s difficult to contemplate what awaits us now.”

The severe weather also impacted Thailand, claiming the lives of at least 176 people, while in Malaysia, there were two reported fatalities.

In Sri Lanka, Cyclone Ditwah triggered catastrophic flooding and landslides last week, leading to at least 465 deaths and 366 individuals still missing. Recovery efforts may cost up to $7 billion, with over 1.5 million people affected and more than 200,000 displaced into state-run shelters.

Despite the unfolding disaster, Sri Lanka welcomed a luxury cruise ship to Colombo port, indicating that the country remains “safe, open, and prepared for tourists,” according to the national tourism board.