Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman reported floods damaging 70,000 hectares of rice fields in Sumatra, building on prior aid efforts amid risks to food production. Recovery work is set to begin in January 2026, with ongoing food aid distribution. Additional impacts include a school destroyed in Aceh's Pidie Jaya and hygiene warnings to prevent post-flood diseases.
Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman reported during a Cabinet meeting that floods have damaged around 70,000 hectares of rice fields in Sumatra, posing risks to national food production. "Insyaallah, we can start handling it from January," he said in Jakarta on Tuesday (Dec 16, 2025), following earlier assurances of full government responsibility for recovery.
Building on phase 2 aid released last week—including 153 trucks and shipments to Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra—the Ministry has distributed 44,000 tons of rice by mid-December, with 120,000 tons in reserve. Additional aid totals Rp1 trillion in rice and 6,000 tons of cooking oil, plus Rp75 billion from other ministries, delivered via three ships.
In Pidie Jaya, Aceh, flash floods on Nov 26 swept away Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Negeri 05 in Seunong Village, leaving only a foundation, along with 12 houses, two prayer halls, and a maternity post. Village head Saiful noted no fatalities due to timely evacuations (Dec 14).
The Indonesian Association of Dermatology and Venereology Specialists (Perdoski) urged clean water and gentle soap access to prevent infections. dr M. Akbar Wedyadhana recommended antiseptic soap for affected areas and fragrance-free products for children (Dec 15).
