Floods and landslides in Aceh Province, Indonesia
Heavy rains triggered floods and landslides across parts of Sumatra, Indonesia, leaving communities in Aceh Province facing severe disruption. What began as localised flooding quickly grew into a wider emergency as rivers overflowed, roads were cut off, and homes were damaged or swept away.
Several of our colleagues in Indonesia have seen the situation in Aceh Tamiang firsthand. Many people have lost everything, including something as simple yet vital as footwear. With limited protection and no comfort, families are sleeping exposed, often on bare floors in temporary shelters.
The floods have also affected areas where IDH has been working for many years. Some of our intervention sites in Aceh Tamiang were destroyed, undoing progress made together with local partners. Although rebuilding will be challenging, we remain committed to supporting the recovery alongside those leading efforts on the ground.
Amid the damage, there are early signs of collective response. Members of the private sector, including participants in the Aceh Sustainable Palm Oil Working Group, have started contributing to relief efforts, either directly or in collaboration with government and local organisations.
IDH is working with the government of Aceh to conduct a rapid assessment of the impact, and we intend to work with partners to explore new opportunities to make forest restoration and replanting part of the longer-term response to the floods, once the humanitarian response phase is over.