In the wake of devastating floods triggered by a rare cyclone in November, residents in Indonesia’s Aceh province are raising white flags to protest the slow government response, with over 1,000 deaths and hundreds of thousands displaced. The situation has escalated into public frustration, highlighted by a tearful governor and President Prabowo Subianto’s refusal of foreign aid, despite ongoing shortages of essentials like clean water and medical supplies.
For weeks, angry and distressed residents in Aceh, the worst-hit province accounting for nearly half the fatalities, have displayed white flags as a distress signal. These flags, appearing on broken rooftops and along riverbanks, symbolize a call for international solidarity rather than surrender, with protesters demanding that the central government accept foreign assistance. The movement gained momentum last Thursday when dozens rallied in Banda Aceh, waving white flags and holding signs, including one from a three-year-old child pleading for a safe world.
The floods, which began in November, have caused widespread destruction, wiping out entire villages and isolating communities due to damaged infrastructure. Survivors report sickness and starvation, with many still lacking access to basic necessities. In a poignant moment, North Aceh Governor Ismail A Jalil broke down publicly, questioning the central government’s awareness of their plight, underscoring the deepening frustration with relief efforts.
President Prabowo Subianto has insisted that Indonesia can handle the disaster internally, refusing offers of international aid and declining to declare it a national disaster, which would unlock emergency funds. His administration has allocated 60 trillion rupiah ($3.6 billion) for reconstruction, but critics argue the response has been reactive and disorganized. Analysts suggest Prabowo’s stance is an attempt to assert sovereignty and maintain his image, but it risks backfiring as conditions worsen.
The crisis has drawn comparisons to the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, which devastated Aceh but saw a quicker and more coordinated international response. Locals, who had recently rebuilt their lives, find the current situation even more challenging, with relief arriving slower despite the lesser scale. The memory of past disasters amplifies the current despair, with residents describing a “complete standstill” in daily life, from markets to schools.
International offers of aid, such as 30 tonnes of rice and relief packages from the UAE, have been returned on orders from the central government, further fueling anger. Provincial authorities have reached out to the United Nations for support, with the Aceh governor expressing willingness to accept help from anywhere, highlighting political tensions in disaster management.
Prabowo’s presidency, which began in February 2024 on populist pledges, has faced criticism for being out of touch, with previous controversies over school meal poisonings and protests over unemployment. The flood response adds to these challenges, even as his approval ratings remain high. Environmental groups also point to deforestation from palm oil expansion as exacerbating the floods, adding another layer to the criticism.
As the crisis persists, the white flags serve as a stark reminder of the human cost and the urgent need for effective action. The future remains uncertain for thousands of survivors, with implications for Indonesia’s governance and its ability to manage climate-related disasters in an era of increasing extreme weather events.
