Humanitarian Response – Sumatera Flash Floods

Description

Since late November 2025, severe floods and landslides have affected several provinces in Sumatra, including Aceh and North Sumatra, causing widespread displacement and damage to homes, infrastructure, and essential services. According to BNPB, approximately 753 deaths have been confirmed, with hundreds of people missing or injured, and an estimated 576,300 people displaced. Access to clean water, sanitation, healthcare, and basic services has been severely disrupted across affected areas.

Women, children, pregnant and lactating women, older persons, and people with disabilities face heightened risks due to inadequate access to appropriate food, hygiene facilities, and essential items such as menstrual hygiene and baby care supplies. Overcrowded shelters have further increased exposure to health risks, gender-based violence, and exploitation. Despite ongoing response efforts, gaps remain in gender- and child-sensitive assistance, including hygiene kits, WASH support, protection services, and psychosocial support.

This proposed one-month emergency intervention will address these gaps through three key actions: (1) distribution of gender- and age-sensitive assistance, including hygiene and nutrition packages for vulnerable groups; (2) provision of minimum protection support in Medan, Lhokseumawe, and Banda Aceh, including accessible reporting and referral mechanisms for Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Protection fro Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH); and (3) a rapid gender and protection assessment to inform safe, equitable, and accountable assistance.

The intervention will be guided by humanitarian principles, gender-responsive programming, and accountability to affected populations, and implemented in partnership with local women’s organizations and government counterparts. Cash or cash-based assistance will be prioritized where markets are functional; however, in areas with access constraints or severe market disruption, in-kind assistance will be provided to ensure timely support.

Funding

This program is supported by the Humanitarian Action Fund – SHIFT Asia, program period December 11, 2025 – January 11, 2026, with total funding support of IDR 165,000,000.