OFFICIALS in Indonesia and Sri Lanka battled to reach survivors of deadly flooding in remote, cut-off regions as the toll in the disaster that hit four countries topped 1,450.
In Indonesia, survivors expressed growing frustration about the slow pace of the rescue effort and aid delivery, as humanitarian groups warned the scale of the challenge was almost unprecedented even for a country that has faced no shortage of natural disasters.
Monsoon rains paired with two tropical storm systems dumped record deluges across Sri Lanka, and parts of Indonesia’s Sumatra, southern Thailand and northern Malaysia last week.
In Indonesia, the toll jumped to at least 804 yesterday, but the number of missing also increased over 650.
The rising figures reflect information that is only trickling in as many regions remain physically cut off by flood damage, isolated by electricity and communications failures, or both.
“It’s very challenging logistically to respond,” said Ade Soekadis, executive director of aid group Mercy Corps Indonesia.
“The extent of the damage and the size of the affected area is really huge.”
The group is hoping to send hygiene equipment and water both from Jakarta and locally.
He said reports of food and water shortages are already “very concerning” and the situation will be “more problematic as time goes by”.
At an evacuation centre in Padan, 52-year-old Reinaro Waruwu said he was “disappointed” in the government’s immediate response and the slow arrival of aid.
“Some waited a day and night before receiving help, so they couldn’t be saved,” he said, surrounded by evacuees sitting on mats on the floor in the hall-turned-shelter.
“I am frustrated, it doesn’t need to be said twice.”
He described the floodwaters and landslides as unprecedented.
“It came like an earthquake... I thought ‘Well, if I am going to die, then so be it,’” he said, beginning to sob heavily.
Traumatised, he could not even eat on arrival, and food has only been patchily available, though vegetables arriving on Tuesday offered a “semblance of hope”, he said.
In North Aceh, 30-year-old M. Atar said some areas were only just becoming accessible as roads were cleared.
“We are in dire need of clean water. Very much in need,” he said.
The weather system that hit Indonesia also brought heavy rains to Thailand, killing at least 176 people, and Malaysia, where two people were killed.
Though floods are common in Asia during monsoon season, climate change is making heavy rain events more frequent because a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture.
Warmer oceans can also turbocharge storm systems. — AFP
