Within hours of the first reports of devastating floods this week in the Indonesian province of Aceh, WFP moved rapidly to deliver emergency supplies by air and road to some 127,000 displaced people in the hardest hit districts of Aceh Tamiang and Gayo Lues.

WFP is currently moving food aid overland with trucks, while in the most inaccessible mountain areas where people are still cut off, the agency is airlifting emergency assistance, using both a WFP-operated helicopter of the UN Humanitarian Air Service, and two helicopters provided by the Government of Indonesia.

Collaborative work

“This is excellent collaborative work with the local government, the Indonesian military, NGOs and UN agencies, which is having the desired impact on the affected population,” said Mohamed Saleheen, WFP Representative in Indonesia.

“We are grateful to Norway, Spain and the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund for making funds available immediately to allow us to effectively respond to this disaster. We urge other donors to continue to support this relief effort,” Saleheen added.

By Friday 29 December, WFP had delivered 122 metric tons of food aid – micronutrient-enriched noodles and biscuits – which was already being distributed to displaced people in camps.

Logistics base

WFP is working closely with local officials to ensure that food aid distribution is coordinated and delivered to those most in need. A logistics base for the operation has been established in Lhokseumawe, in northeast Aceh province.

WFP has so far prepared sufficient supplies and logistics assets to provide emergency rations to the affected population for approximately two weeks. However, the number of people receiving assistance is expected to rise, as isolated villages are still being reached for the first time after the flooding.

Displaced

Indonesian authorities report more than 300,000 people have been displaced in Aceh, including the districts of Biruen, North Aceh, Bener Meriah, Aceh Timur, Gayo Lues, and Aceh Tamiang.

WFP has joined a joint UN-NGO assessment currently underway in all affected districts to assess overall damage and needs.

Mohamed Saleheen
Country Representative
WFP/Jakarta
Cell: +62 811 40794

Sven Thelin
WFP/Lhokseumawe
Cell: +62 812 1050887

Paul Risley
WFP/Bangkok
Tel: +66-2-655-4115
Cell: +66-1-701-9208
paul.risley@wfp.org