Ramadan Parcels from Dompet Dhuafa Bring Smiles to Aceh Survivors Beneath Tarpaulins

ACEH TAMIANG — For many people, Ramadan is a moment to return home to warmth. But for hydrometeorological disaster survivors in Aceh Tamiang, ‘home’ now is a tarpaulin sheet that no longer withholds the onslaught of the weather. When it rains, the air is cold to the bone, the surrounding area turns to mud and damp; in the dry season, the mud that has dried becomes a choking dust. The scorching sun during the hot season also bites, making fasting feel even more ‘challenging’.

Amid conditions far from recovery, the holy month of Ramadan 1447 Hijri arrives as a guest. For the refugees, this year’s Ramadan is met with extraordinary acceptance, even though the bitterness cannot be hidden. One line of sorrow is visible on the face of M Shaleh (73) on Wednesday (4 March 2026). In his old age, he must accept the bitter truth that his assets have vanished entirely. ‘My house has disappeared, swept away. It feels very different from last year,’ he said gravely.

Not only his dwelling, but his livelihood as a breeder has also been decimated. His cattle were swept away by the floodwaters. Now, he can only be patient, living in a hot tent while trying to stitch together the hopes that were torn apart.

Another voice, Ariyani (52). ‘Now I am staying with a house, but it is only half-constructed. We house four families (KK),’ she said.

They cannot imagine Eid al-Fitr in the future. Without solid walls, the idea of celebrating Eid under the refugees’ tents feels grey and stifling.

However, amid these constraints, a ray of hope appears as the Dompet Dhuafa team remains in Aceh Tamiang to distribute aid in the form of Ramadan Parcels. The parcels are designed to meet basic needs while strengthening the survivors’ spirituality. The Ramadan Parcels include staples (food supplies), dates for sahur and iftar, and new items for worship.

The presence of this aid brings a warmth of its own. Shaleh, Ariyani, and other beneficiaries cannot hide their happiness as they embrace the Ramadan Parcels. For them, the aid is not merely food; it is a message that they are not alone in this struggle.

Ahmad Yamin, Disaster Response Coordinator for the DMC in Aceh Tamiang, said the aid is not merely a logistics package, but a message that they are not alone in facing this disaster. ‘Through Ramadan Parcels, we aim to keep the refugees’ camp kitchen bubbling during sahur and iftar, and to bring the Sunnah and the sweetness of Ramadan into the tents. So that the survivors can observe worship more properly and comfortably,’ he said.

Despite a future still shrouded in dust and uncertainty, this gift of triumph becomes fuel for them to stand firmly in worship, to seek blessings in the holy month, and to hope that tomorrow will be better than today.