Fadhilah Primandari and M. Ammar Hidayahtulloh reflect on the Indonesian government’s response to Sumatra’s calamitous floods in November 2025. They argue that when authorities gaslight disaster victims into believing they can handle the consequences, they merely prolong and delegitimise victims’ suffering
In late November, deadly floods and landslides hit three provinces in Indonesia’s Sumatra Island: Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. As of 27 January, the disaster has caused 1,204 fatalities. More than 111,800 people have been displaced; 140 are still missing.
The central government response has been slow, hindered by policies that focus on reactive rather than…