Earth Science News
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
'No food': Indonesians scrounge for supplies after flood disaster

'No food': Indonesians scrounge for supplies after flood disaster

By Marchio GORBIANO and Taris IMAN
Sibolga, Indonesia (AFP) Dec 4, 2025

Under a scorching sun, Nur Apsyah waited in line with hundreds of others, hoping to secure some of the food aid in short supply in Indonesia's flood-hit Sumatra.

She was one of the lucky ones on Wednesday, when soldiers in military fatigues oversaw the distribution of rice to flood survivors.

Her town Sibolga has been almost entirely cut off after damage to access routes, leaving residents with no electricity and dwindling food, fuel and water.

"It has never been like this in Sibolga before," said the 28-year-old, who waited at the state-owned rice warehouse in neighbouring Sarudik with her parents.

"There is no food, the money has run out, there are no jobs. How can we eat?" she said.

Flooding and landslides last week killed more than 770 people and buried homes, washed away bridges and severed transportation links across the island of Sumatra.

With many areas inaccessible by land and more rain expected, humanitarian groups warned the scale of rescue and recovery efforts was unprecedented.

While the seaside town of Sibolga in Central Tapanuli district escaped the worst of the flood damage, it was left without electricity and little access to the rest of the country.

Nur called the situation an "emergency," adding that people recently looted minimarkets in town.

"Imagine, people who should not have done that, did it because there is no helping hand from the government," she told AFP.

Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Pratikno said that the rice handouts were part of its efforts to "ease the people's burden."

AFP saw the lucky recipients on Wednesday have their fingers marked with ink to prevent double distribution and hoarding. Some men tossed the 50-kilogram rice sacks on their backs, while women placed them atop their heads to carry them away.

Queues outside the warehouse and fuel pumps have begun to improve, though forecasts of fresh rain have raised fears of new damage and worsening shortages.

- 'Everything is scarce' -

Many stores in Sibolga remain shuttered with no electricity supply after the disaster. The few that remain open depend on generators.

Local resident Sahmila Pasaribu told AFP she spent hours searching for essential supplies.

Even if she had the money, she said "there is nothing that can be bought."

"It's sad that because of the disasters like this, everything is scarce: fuel, rice, cooking oil," the 55-year-old said.

At a local government-owned water company office in Sibolga, Sopian Hadi filled gallon containers as a queue stretched behind him.

He said he has regularly visited the office over the past week after landslides disrupted the water line to his house.

"We need (water) for our daily lives... water is our source of life," the grocery store owner, 30, said.

Other supplies are limited, and he described queuing for six hours to fill his motorcycle gas tank.

Despite the circumstances, Sopian said he refused to be beaten down by the situation.

"I am not desperate, because to survive, (we) can't despair."

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
A world of storm and tempest
When the Earth Quakes

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Survivors, families seek answers to deadly Hong Kong ferry disaster
Hong Kong (AFP) Dec 2, 2025
Survivors of one of Hong Kong's deadliest maritime disasters and victims' families who spent 13 years in a legal and bureaucratic maze seeking answers will have to wait a little longer for a coroner's ruling to shed light on the tragedy. A ruling was due to be made on Thursday, but on Tuesday the hearing was adjourned to a date to be determined. But in 2012, Philip Chiu and his family had boarded the Lamma IV ferry at the quiet pier of an outlying island, travelling towards the city's Victoria H ... read more

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Indonesia bucks pressure to label floods national disaster

Survivors, families seek answers to deadly Hong Kong ferry disaster

To counter climate denial, UN scientists must be 'clear' about human role: IPCC chief

'No food': Indonesians scrounge for supplies after flood disaster

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Meta shares jump on report company slashing VR spending

Exploring Easter Island Quarry Now Possible with Detailed 3D Model

Faraday Effect Reveals Magnetic Role of Light in New Study

In Data Center Alley, AI sows building boom, doubts

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Ozone catalysts mapped for safer water disinfection

Flood-hit Asia regions saw highest November rains since 2012: AFP analysis

Reservoirs half as full as last year in drought-hit Tehran

Japan oysters dying 'en masse', likely due to warmer sea: officials

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Where Antarctica's ice melt will have the biggest impact on sea levels

Sentinel 1D radar satellite returns first images from Antarctic to Europe

Antarctica's Retreating Ice Reveals Nutrient-Rich Peaks Boosting Ocean Carbon Uptake

Ancient RNA recovery reveals gene activity in Ice Age mammoths

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Kelp cost modeling tool for Maine seaweed farms reveals major savings options

Denmark targets farm nitrogen emissions to boost water quality

EU reaches accord on new generation of genetically modified crops

Cyclone turns Sri Lanka's tea mountains into death valley

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Landslides turn Sri Lanka village into burial ground; Tea mountains become death valley

Deadly floods sweep Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia as combined toll tops 300

Race to get aid to Asia flood survivors as death toll tops 1,300

Thailand floods kill 13, leaving people stranded and roads submerged

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
G.Bissau junta claims 'ethnic civil war' risk justifies coup

Amnesty urges war crimes probe into Sudan refugee camp attack

Kenya launches $1.5 bn road project with Chinese firms

Bitterness, disappointment grip Bissau-Guineans after coup

DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Turkey basilica emerges from lake, illuminating early Church life

Thailand's last hunter-gatherers seek land rights

Brazil defines boundaries for 10 new Indigenous territories

Understanding the nuances of human-like intelligence

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.