UGM and Alumni Provide 26 Temporary Homes to Aceh Flood Victims

Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and the Keluarga Alumni Universitas Gadjah Mada (Kagama) have provided crucial support to flood victims in Aceh Tamiang, Aceh, by handing over 26 temporary housing units (huntara). The handover ceremony took place on Sunday, July 5, 2026, in Kampung Sekumur, an area that suffered severe damage from flash floods and extreme rainfall in November.

These temporary shelters were specifically prioritized for residents in the most devastated areas. Before the huntara were built, many residents of Kampung Sekumur had been living in displacement camps, enduring harsh weather conditions as their homes were destroyed. The initiative offers a significant turning point for survivors who had been displaced for months.

UGM Rector Ova Emilia explained that Kampung Sekumur was chosen as a priority location after UGM and Kagama Aceh conducted a mapping of the affected regions. She noted that the area was among the most difficult to access and had sustained the heaviest damage. "This area was the most severely affected, requiring assistance, and was difficult to reach. Therefore, we focused our aid here. This was a joint decision with Kagama Aceh after analyzing which areas needed prioritization," Ova stated.

Interestingly, some of the materials used to construct the 26 huntara units were salvaged wood from the very floods that devastated the region, repurposed for the temporary homes. Residents like Sariyah, 60, expressed profound gratitude, sharing how the huntara now allows her to sleep comfortably, a stark contrast to her previous life in a makeshift tent. She recounted the hardship of cleaning her flood-damaged home, which cost her family's transportation assets, emphasizing the relief the new shelter provides. Mardiah, 40, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the loss of her oil palm plantation and income source due to the floods, and expressing joy at having a decent place to live again.