Emergency Response to Floods and Landslides in Indonesia
Peace Boat Disaster Relief (PBV) is currently working in partnership with the Indonesian NGO ASAR Humanity Foundation to respond to severe floods and landslides that struck Indonesia in late November 2025. The disaster was triggered by intense rainfall associated with Cyclone Senyar, which caused rivers to overflow, flash floods, and widespread landslides across Sumatra Island, particularly in the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
According to Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), approximately 3.2 million people have been affected across the three provinces, with over one million people displaced from their homes. As of the latest reports, 712 deaths have been confirmed, more than 500 people remain missing, and over 2,600 people have been injured. Tens of thousands of households have suffered damage or complete destruction of their homes, while roads, bridges, power lines, schools, and other public facilities have been severely impacted. The widespread destruction of critical infrastructure has significantly disrupted access to food, clean water, healthcare, and education, raising serious concerns about both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term recovery.
In response to this large-scale disaster, PBV began emergency relief operations in December 2025, working closely with ASAR Humanity, a trusted local partner with extensive experience in disaster response across Indonesia. Despite difficult access conditions and ongoing risks in affected areas, joint response activities are currently ongoing. So far, support has focused on emergency meal distribution, provision of safe drinking water, and distribution of hygiene and sanitation supplies, particularly in communities where lifelines have not yet been restored.
The current response prioritizes households facing displacement, housing insecurity, injuries, and psychosocial stress, with special attention given to families with children and other vulnerable populations. Activities are being implemented across multiple locations, including Aceh Province, with continued and planned support in North Sumatra and West Sumatra, where many communities remain isolated or lack access to basic services. Through this response, PBV and ASAR Humanity aim to reach over 5,000 families, or approximately 25,000 people, with essential assistance during this critical period.
PBV is working with the ASAR Humanity’s field teams enabling the rapid procurement and distribution of food, water, and hygiene items while maintaining flexibility to respond to evolving needs on the ground. The project is being implemented over multiple consecutive days, with ongoing monitoring, reporting, and documentation conducted by local teams to ensure accountability and effectiveness.
PBV has a long-standing partnership with ASAR Humanity, having previously collaborated on disaster responses including the Flores Island volcanic eruption in 2024 and the Java earthquake in 2022. This established cooperation allows PBV to act quickly and effectively by working through trusted local networks that understand the needs and context of affected communities.
Disasters can strike anywhere, and their impacts often persist long after the initial emergency phase. Many families in Indonesia continue to struggle to secure food, clean water, and safe living conditions as recovery efforts take time. PBV remains committed to supporting affected communities for as long as assistance is needed, but this work would not be possible without the generosity of supporters.
We sincerely ask for your warm support to help sustain PBV’s emergency response in Indonesia and ensure that lifesaving assistance continues to reach those most in need.
Donate to PBV’s Indonesia Flood Emergency Response:
https://pbv.or.jp/donate/2025_indonesia_rain
Support long-term disaster response as a Monthly Supporter:
https://pbv.or.jp/monthly_supporter/
