Governments and aid groups raced to reach hundreds of thousands of flood survivors in Asia as the death toll topped 1,200. Torrential monsoon rains and two cyclones struck Sri Lanka, Indonesia, southern Thailand, and northern Malaysia. Many victims remain in shelters, struggling for food, clean water, and fuel.
In Indonesia’s Aceh, survivors queued for hours at petrol stations and shops, fearing shortages. Prices of essential items have soared, with chillies reaching $18 per kilo. The government sent 34,000 tons of rice and 6.8 million liters of cooking oil to affected provinces, but residents said distribution was slow.
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Aid groups warned that Aceh faces severe risk of hunger if supplies are not restored within a week. Islamic Relief shipped 12 tonnes of food aboard an Indonesian navy vessel to help survivors. At least 659 people died in Sumatra, 475 remain missing, and over a million were evacuated.
Sri Lanka also faced deadly floods and landslides, killing at least 410 people, with 336 missing. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared a state of emergency and called for international aid. Air forces from Sri Lanka, India, and Pakistan have been evacuating stranded residents and delivering food.
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Southern Thailand reported at least 176 deaths, while Malaysia recorded two fatalities. Floodwaters are slowly receding, but alerts remain in the hardest-hit areas. Survivors described the floods as “unstoppable,” with waves of water destroying homes, power lines, and telecommunications infrastructure.