ACEH TAMIANG —–— The clean water crisis remains a concern among disaster survivors in Sumatra, especially in Aceh. One survivor in Serba Hamlet, Serba Luar Village, Bandar Pusaka Subdistrict, Aceh Tamiang Regency, named Nia (27), said that she needs to walk about 20 minutes into the forest to get water. There, she relies on water flowing in a ditch for drinking, washing clothes, and bathing.
“We have to walk for 20 minutes into the forest. Sometimes we also bathe and wash clothes in the river under the bridge near the shelter. The water there is still dirty, but we don’t have many other options,” she explained.
Not only Nia, but all survivors temporarily staying at the evacuation center must travel long distances to access clean water.
Seeing this situation, Dompet Dhuafa through its Disaster Management Center (DMC) has helped provide clean water for survivors at the evacuation center by activating a borehole in Serba Hamlet, Serba Luar Village, Aceh Tamiang, on Monday (January 5, 2026).
It should be noted that survivors of the ecological disaster in Serba Hamlet, Serba Luar Village, Bandar Pusaka Subdistrict, Aceh Tamiang Regency, still had difficulty obtaining clean water 40 days after the disaster.
Read also: Clean Water Crisis After Flash Floods in Central Tapanuli
The flash flood that occurred on November 25, 2025, caused the clean water channels that had been used to be cut off. Since the disaster, residents of Serba Hamlet have relied on floodwater puddles or ditches filled with water.
Boreholes around the evacuation center have become an oasis amid the scarcity of clean water faced by survivors since the disaster. Currently, survivors can obtain clean water at a location closer than before.
The activation of the borehole in Serba Luar Hamlet is a collaboration between Dompet Dhuafa and the Zakat and Charity Fund Management Unit (UPZDK) of Permata Bank Syariah. The water flowing from this borehole reaches 650 beneficiaries around the Serba Luar Village evacuation post.
“Alhamdulillah, since the borehole was built, we no longer have to walk far into the fields. We can now get clean water around our camp. There, we wash our clothes, collect water for drinking and cooking, and perform wudu,” added Nia.
On the other hand, Dompet Dhuafa’s DMC Response Manager for Aceh Tamiang, Ahmad Yamin, explained the plan to build a bathing, washing, and toilet (MCK) facility after the activation of the borehole in Serba Hamlet was successfully realized.
“To maximize the use of clean water in Dusun Serba, we will build MCK facilities. Currently, residents still have to go to the river for their sanitation needs,” he said.
He stated that the presence of bathing, washing, and toilet facilities (MCK) will make it easier for survivors around the evacuation center to meet their daily sanitation needs.
For your information, on Monday (January 5, 2026), the collaboration between UPZDK Permata Bank Syariah and Dompet Dhuafa also distributed various aid packages to survivors in Aceh Tamiang, including Mother and Child Aid Packages, hygiene kits, and a number of ready-to-eat meals.
The Mother and Child Assistance Packages, containing blankets, prayer mats, prayer robes, sanitary napkins, baby diapers, oil, baby porridge, and other necessities, as well as hygiene kits, were given to mothers currently living in emergency tents in Tualang Hamlet, Tanjung Genting Village, Kejuruan Muda Subdistrict, Aceh Tamiang.
In addition, 500 servings of ready-to-eat meals from the Dompet Dhuafa Public Kitchen helped meet the food needs of survivors in Tualang Hamlet and Batang Ara Village, Aceh Tamiang.
Recovery efforts for Aceh Tamiang flood survivors are still ongoing. The availability of clean water, proper sanitation, and the fulfillment of basic needs are priorities.
Through collaboration with various parties, Dompet Dhuafa is committed to continuing to assist survivors until their living conditions gradually recover. Meanwhile, to help restore Sumatra after the disaster, you can contribute by donating through https://digital.dompetdhuafa.org/donasi/bangkitsumatera. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Muhammad Afriza Adha, DMC, Moh Reynaldi Risahondua
Editor: Dhika