Severe floods hitting Aceh since November 26, 2025 have cut off access to isolated areas, forcing volunteers to undertake perilous journeys on wooden boats that frequently collide with obstacles. Aid delivery efforts continue unabated, including by the TNI and companies like Pertamina, amid a decrease in the number of refugees across Sumatra.
The flash floods and landslides that struck Aceh on November 26, 2025 have isolated many areas, including in Bener Meriah and Central Aceh, making aid distribution a major challenge. A video uploaded on Instagram @saktimandraguna shows volunteers transporting 4 tons of food via sea and river routes at night using wooden boats. Their boat collided with obstacles three times, but fortunately sustained no damage. One volunteer shouted in frustration, "Nabrak-nabrak ini cobalah. Ngeri kali perjalanan kita ini, sampai nabrak-nabrak untuk ngantar bantuan. Kalian pejabat-pejabat harus ke sini kalian biar tau kalian rasanya. Lotong!" Another called out to President Prabowo, "Prabowo sini kau woi, kau tengok kami ini kayak mana."
To overcome isolation, volunteers also had to cross rivers and walk 30 km to deliver 6 tons of rice. "Ini ya mas Ale ini, kita semua sahabat BM3 ini proses pengiriman ke dua kabupaten yang terisolasi... Hari ini ada 6 ton beras yang coba kita kirim ke sana. Bismillahi tawakkaltu alallah," said the video recorder.
Similar efforts are underway by the TNI, which established a posko at Rembele Airport in Bener Meriah since December 7, 2025, to speed up distribution. Hercules and CN aircraft began landing logistics from December 8, distributed by helicopters including two Caracals, one from the Ministry of Defense, and one MI-17. Colonel Didik Setyo Nugroho stated the posko is more effective than operations from Medan or Padang.
Overall, the number of disaster refugees in Sumatra has decreased from 1,047,107 on December 8 to 902,545 on December 9, according to Brigjen TNI Osmar Silalahi, who called it progress. The TNI continues deploying personnel, aircraft, helicopters, and warships for logistics. Companies like Pertamina have added poskos in Medan and Banda Aceh for aid coordination, while Brantas Abipraya sends heavy equipment to North Sumatra and Aceh. In West Sumatra, 24 unidentified bodies were given a mass burial on December 10 in Bungus after funeral prayers at Masjid Raya Syekh Ahmad Khatib Al Minangkabawi.
