The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) expresses deep concern over the rapidly worsening humanitarian situation in Acheh following the Indonesians government’s denial and obstruction of humanitarian aid after devastating floods in November that left at least 456 people dead and displaced hundreds of thousands more. Entire communities remain isolated without adequate assistance and reports of violence against civilian aid efforts raise serious human rights concerns.
Despite the scale of the disaster, the Indonesian government has declined to declare the floods a national disaster and has restricted the entry of foreign humanitarian assistance. Acheh officials have warned that full recovery could take 30 to 40 years as the flooding and subsequent landslides across Acheh destroyed homes, bridges, schools and hospitals. Offers of aid from several countries, including Malaysia, Japan and the United Arab Emirates, were reportedly rejected or returned. President Prabowo Subianto has stated that the situation is “under control,” a claim strongly contested by affected communities and humanitarian observers. In a public display of desperation, Achehnese residents have raised white flags across flood-hit areas as a distress signal to draw attention to their plight.
The UNPO is extremely troubled by reports of civilian aid convoys displaying symbols associated with the Free Acheh Movement (GAM) being violently confronted by Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) personnel. According to Amnesty International Indonesia, a violent incident in Krueng Mane, North Acheh, on 25 December 2025 involved alleged beatings and gunfire against volunteers attempting to deliver humanitarian aid.
The Indonesian government’s response to the crisis underlines how the status-quo maintains the exploitation of the resource-rich Acheh region, at the expense of its residents. Reports from CSO and community members suggest that extensive deforestation linked to palm oil plantations impulsed by the government, significantly worsened the floods.
The Acheh are an indigenous group from the northern tip of Sumatra island in Indonesia, and have been a member of the UNPO since 1991. They have a distinct identity and historical sovereignty. However, they suffer from ongoing struggles for self-determination. Despite the formal agreements intended to grant Acheh autonomy, the region still faces significant political, economic, and social challenges, reflecting unfulfilled rights and unresolved historical grievances. The ongoing repression, unrepresentation, and denial of their right to self-determination highlight the critical need for continued advocacy and international support for the Achehnese people’s rights.
UNPO reiterates the urgent importance of respecting the right of self-determination of people, ensuring a meaningful representation, and respecting their rights, including environmental and land rights of the communities. Indigenous peoples, such as the achenes, continue to be the ones who bear the heaviest consequences of climate-related disasters. We stress that the protection of fundamental rights, the promotion of non-violence and the recognition of local agency are not optional, they are essential principles for building a just and equitable response to crises.
UNPO calls on the Indonesian government to respect the fundamental rights of the Achenese, to urgently give access to humanitarian aid and international observers. Additionally, the UNPO calls the international community to pressure the Indonesian government to protect the fundamental rights of the Achehnese people, including, their right of self-determination.
Only through sustained diplomacy, inclusive dialogue and mutual respect can stability and equitable solutions be achieved for all affected communities.
UNPO stands in solidarity with the people of Acheh and urges the international community to closely monitor the situation, support humanitarian actors, and uphold the rights and dignity of affected communities.
Photo: © Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2025), processed by ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO/ESA Standard Licence
