ACEH TAMIANG, TAMIANG —-— Entering the month of Ramadan 1447 Hijri, the people of Aceh welcomed it with joy. In almost all regions, the people of Aceh carried out the tradition of meugang (eating together) and Tarawih prayers in congregation, even though they had not yet fully recovered from the traces of the 2025 hydrometeorological disaster.
On the first day of Ramadan, the Aceh Tamiang region was again hit by heavy rains from Tuesday (02/18/2026) night to Wednesday (02/19/2026) morning. This caused several access roads to be covered in wet mud and landslide-prone soil. Some access roads are still difficult for vehicles to pass, so the alternative is to cross the river by wooden boat.
One of the survivors, Khairiyah (40), said that this Ramadan was “very special.” She said with determination that her house was washed away by the strong floodwaters. Her village, Kampung Rantau Bintang, Bandar Pusaka Subdistrict, Aceh Tamiang Regency, now feels very different from before the incident.
“On the night of the incident, we residents ran to the hill. Now many of our houses have been washed away. We couldn’t bring much of our belongings. Then my family of five, including my children, lived in a refugee tent. Currently, we live in a temporary house that we built ourselves from the wood left over from the flood,” said Khairiyah.
“Before the flood, I ran a grocery store at home. Now I can’t open it again. My husband is also unable to work fully because his leg was infected by a nail during the flood. So now I help him to collect aid,” she added.
Read also: Dompet Dhuafa Receives 1,000 Mowilex Kits for Disaster Response in Sumatra
On the first day of Ramadan, despite light drizzle and overcast skies, the Dompet Dhuafa Disaster Management Center (DMC) team ventured into the difficult terrain of the palm oil plantations in Aceh Tamiang. They worked to distribute aid from Mowilex, a premium paint brand from PT Mowilex Indonesia, to disaster survivors in Kampung Rantau Bintang, Bandar Pusaka, and Desa Sekumur, Karang Baru.
“The post-disaster conditions, especially in one of the severely affected locations in Aceh Tamiang, have not yet fully recovered after almost three months. Many disaster-affected residents are still living in vulnerable conditions, with limited access, no electricity, and far from any assistance, especially those living in remote areas,” said the Head of Dompet Dhuafa’s DMC, Shofa Qudus.
“Alhamdulillah, Dompet Dhuafa is still working hard to distribute humanitarian aid from Mowilex. It is hoped that this will continue to strengthen the humanitarian response for survivors who still need assistance, especially during the month of Ramadan,” he added.
A humanitarian donation of 1,000 Mowilex Kits was distributed to support the humanitarian response to flooding in Sumatra. The aid, consisting of food and hygiene kits, was distributed in the Bireuen and Aceh Tamiang areas. A total of 500 Mowilex Kits were distributed in the Aceh Tamiang area. On that day, 100 packages were distributed in Kampung Rantau Bintang and 250 packages in Desa Sekumur.
“Alhamdulillah, we are very grateful for the aid today. It is still difficult for us to return to normal activities and meet our daily needs. Hopefully, this aid will also arrive in time for Eid,” said Khairiyah.
For your information, the Aceh Tamiang Regency Government has again extended the disaster emergency response period for seven days from February 18, 2026, to continue post-disaster management in the area.
“The results of the meeting decided to extend the emergency response period by seven days. The Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) has agreed because there are still several areas in severe condition,” said Aceh Tamiang Regency Government Spokesperson Muhammad Farij in Aceh Tamiang on Wednesday (02/19/2026), as reported by Antara News.
However, residents are grateful that at the beginning of Ramadan, aid continues to arrive, ensuring that basic needs are met for the affected communities. The aid we provide is very meaningful to them there. Continue to support them through digital.dompetdhuafa.org/donasi/prayforsumatera. (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Dhika
Editor: Dedi Fadlil