Floods disrupt lives of children in Indonesia – Report
Floods and landslides across parts of Sumatra, Indonesia, have left children facing ongoing health risks and extended disruption to their education, even as floodwaters begin to recede in some areas. Needs remain high, especially in remote and cut off communities where access continues to be limited, according to a report by , Save the Children, a UK-founded international humanitarian organization for children.
In Aceh province, damage to roads, bridges and other infrastructure has left several villages inaccessible. The organization also cited Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency report that at least 990 deaths, including children, linked to the floods and landslides.
Aid workers in the affected areas report that many families remain internally displaced and are staying in temporary shelters with limited protection. Children are living in open or makeshift spaces and are exposed to rain, wind and mosquitoes, increasing the risk of illness. Health workers have treated children for coughs, colds and skin conditions, while concerns persist for infants living in inadequate shelter conditions.
Relief efforts have included the distribution of emergency kits, food, mattresses and medicines, as well as the establishment of child friendly spaces that offer psychosocial support through play and creative activities to help children regain a sense of normalcy.
Education has been severely disrupted, with an estimated 250,000 students affected. Children in flood hit areas have been unable to attend school for around two weeks, and hundreds of schools have been damaged by the disaster.
Access to remote areas in Central and North Aceh and Bener Meriah remains a major challenge, with some locations reachable only by air or after hours of walking, according to local partners involved in the response, according to Al Fadhil, Director of the Geutanyo Foundation, Save the Children’s local partner .
Health support, screenings and medicines have reached about 2,500 people so far through coordination between humanitarian groups and provincial health authorities. International aid agencies have worked in Indonesia for decades, responding to major disasters including the 2004 tsunami and the 2018 Sulawesi earthquake.
Category: Community
