Sumatra floods: Thousands remain displaced months on as temporary housing lags

Photo: Ramadhan BBC Indonesia

Nearly two months after floods and landslides swept across parts of Sumatra, more than 160,000 people are still living in limbo, in tents, evacuation centres or the homes of relatives, as the pace of rebuilding struggles to keep up with need.

According to Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), 166,579 people remained displaced across Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra as of 16 January. While the government has begun constructing temporary shelters, fewer than 1,000 units are ready for occupation.

For many survivors, daily life has become a test of endurance.

‘Hot by day, cold at night’

In Kuala Cangkoi, a coastal village in North Aceh, Salamah has spent almost two months sharing a single tent with seven other people.

“By day it’s unbearably hot, by night it’s freezing,” she said to BBC Indonesia.

Her home was destroyed when flash floods surged downstream from the highlands of Bener Meriah in late November. With nowhere else to go, she remains in the camp, uncertain when help will arrive.

Nearby, Armiayati visits the ruins of her house every day.

“There’s no roof, no walls. Everything is gone,” she said quietly.

While adults try to suppress their frustration, the impact on children is increasingly visible. Aid workers and families report frequent cases of fever, coughs and stomach illness among those still living in tents.

Local officials have proposed building temporary shelters (huntara) for more than 100 affected families in the area, but residents say they have yet to receive clear information about when construction will begin.

Disputes over relocation

Some families have rejected plans for permanent housing on government-owned land, which they describe as disaster-prone.

“There are no trees left, it’s close to the river and the sea,” said Faizil, another flood survivor. “We’re afraid we’ll be moved again one day.”

Many residents want their land to be restored and rebuilt rather than relocated elsewhere.

North Aceh’s district head, Ismail A Jalil, said more than 33,000 people in the area were still displaced and that over 1,600 temporary units were under construction. Priority, he said, was being given to families whose homes were destroyed.

Shelter helps, but does not solve everything

In Aceh Tamiang, some families have begun moving into newly built temporary housing. For Nursahati, who relocated last week, the shelter is an improvement on tent life — but far from ideal.

“At least we’re no longer exposed to rain and heat,” she said.

But access to clean water remains limited, forcing residents to queue for daily needs. The shelter is also located 13 kilometres from her former village, making school runs long and exhausting.

Each unit is modest: a single open room, shared kitchens and toilets, and minimal facilities. Some blocks are still unfinished.

“It feels different, but the hardship hasn’t really changed,” she said.

Living with relatives, without cash support

In North Sumatra, many survivors have chosen to stay with relatives or neighbours rather than in camps. For them, assistance has been even harder to access.

Nidar Halawa, whose home was destroyed by a landslide in Tapanuli Utara, has been living with extended family for two months.

“We’re grateful, but it’s uncomfortable to keep relying on others,” she said.

Before the disaster, she earned a living weaving cloth, while her husband worked as a casual truck driver. Both lost their income after the disaster.

While food aid has arrived, Nidar says her family has yet to receive any cash assistance, despite being eligible for the government’s temporary housing allowance of Rp600,000 (£30) per month.

“We need money too, for school, for daily expenses,” she said. “Rice alone is not enough.”

Community-led solutions in West Sumatra

In contrast, some communities in West Sumatra have taken recovery into their own hands.

In Batu Busuk, Padang, residents and donors worked together to build simple wooden shelters just days after the floods. Eva Kusanti moved into one after spending only a week in a tent.

“It’s small, but it’s a room of our own,” she said.

She has also received the government housing allowance, but like many others, she remains unsure how to rebuild her livelihood.

“My shop is gone. My husband’s motorbike was destroyed. We’re starting from zero again,” she said.

Warnings from experts

Disaster management specialists caution that large-scale collective shelters should be used only as a last resort.

“Poor sanitation, lack of privacy and overcrowding can turn temporary housing into a long-term social crisis,” said Avianto Amri, a disaster risk expert.

He warned that such shelters have previously been linked to health problems and increased risks for women and children, as seen after the 2018 Palu earthquake.

While the government has pledged to accelerate both temporary and permanent housing before Ramadan, experts say recovery must go beyond buildings.

“Reconstruction should not just replace what was lost,” Avianto said. “It must reduce the risk of the same disaster happening again.”

For tens of thousands of families across Sumatra, that promise remains painfully distant.