Father's Struggle to Provide Shelter Amid Flood Disaster

Under the scorching midday sun, Ingotan Tua Draha stood motionless atop the mound of mud that was once his home’s floor. Occasionally, he gazed at the remnants of the building, now barely recognisable. The house that had sheltered his family for decades was now buried under sand and soil, leaving behind memories that were difficult to salvage. A flash flood and landslide that struck Tukka subdistrict in Pasar Tukka ward transformed his life in an instant. Together with his wife and eight children, he now has to start over from scratch. There is no longer a home to return to. Instead of staying in evacuation centres, Ingotan chose to rent a house at his own expense. This decision was not made out of ability, but out of necessity. “It’s impossible in a tent. We are many, I have eight children,” he said softly, wiping sweat with a small towel. For a father, the comfort of his children is the primary consideration. He knows that cramped living in a tent is not a suitable environment for such a large family, especially since some of his children are still in school. The problem is, after the disaster struck, income no longer flows as it once did. The economic activities that sustained their livelihood have also ground to a halt. The family’s savings, meant to secure their future, are now slowly depleting to pay the rental costs. However, Ingotan does not see it as a loss. For him, the safety and peace of mind for his wife and children are far more important than the remaining money in storage. In Pasar Tukka village itself, evacuation facilities are still limited. Tents are not yet available. In that uncertain situation, he and his wife agreed to take the risk: finding temporary accommodation despite the lack of certainty regarding aid. Hope briefly emerged when the government promised rental assistance of Rp600,000 for survivors. However, four months after the disaster, the aid has yet to arrive. “They say there is rental assistance, but it hasn’t been disbursed. We’ve been waiting a long time,” he said, holding onto hope that has not yet faded.