Indonesians Raise White Flags Amid Growing Anger Over Slow Flood Relief

Fri Dec 26 2025 19:44:59 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Residents of Aceh, Indonesia, are raising white flags to protest the government's delayed response to devastating floods triggered by a cyclone, which has left thousands without basic necessities.

In the wake of deadly floods in Aceh province, where over 1,000 people died and many more were displaced, residents are raising white flags as a form of protest against the Indonesian government's inadequate aid response. Despite international offers of assistance, President Prabowo Subianto insists the situation is under control, leading to heightened frustration among affected communities who lack access to clean water, food, and medical supplies.

For weeks now, angry and distressed residents in Indonesia's westernmost province have been raising white flags over the state's slow response to a series of deadly floods.

Triggered by a rare cyclone in November, the deluge killed more than 1,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands across the island of Sumatra. In Aceh, the worst-hit province which accounted for nearly half of the deaths, many still do not have ready access to clean water, food, electricity and medical supplies.

In a sign of just how frustrating managing the crisis has become, the governor of North Aceh broke down publicly earlier this month.

Does the central government not know [what we're experiencing]? I don't understand, a tearful Ismail A Jalil said in front of cameras.

But President Prabowo Subianto has refused foreign aid, insisting the situation is under control.

Indonesia is capable of overcoming this disaster, he told his cabinet last week. Prabowo has also ignored calls to declare it a national disaster, which would unlock emergency funds and streamline relief efforts.

Prabowo's administration has increasingly been criticised as reactive, disorganised and out of touch, adjectives that some analysts say have come to define his presidency.

Last Thursday, dozens of protesters rallied in Aceh's capital, Banda Aceh, waving white flags and demanding that the central government opens the door to foreign aid.

Standing among the crowd was a little girl holding a sheet of paper, which read: I am just three years old, I want to grow up in a safe and sustainable world.

Though typically seen as a symbol for surrender, the white flags that have popped up across the province are a call for international solidarity, protesters say.

Entire villages have been wiped out, while widespread damage to roads and infrastructure has also isolated many communities. Survivors have spoken of sickness and starvation.

Provincial authorities have reached out to the United Nations for support, with the Aceh governor declaring that he welcomes help from anyone, anywhere.

Prabowo's administration has said relief efforts are under way on a national scale, noting that it has disbursed some 60 trillion rupiah ($3.6bn) for reconstruction efforts. However, for some in Aceh, the situation brings back painful memories of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, when the region was previously devastated.