The flash floods that struck East Aceh on November 26, 2025 caused significant damage to residential areas, including Alue Canang Village in Birem Bayeun Sub-district. A total of 15 families lost their homes and were forced to seek temporary shelter at the Village Head’s house. This emergency situation has not only resulted in material losses but has also had a serious impact on the psychological well-being of the affected communities, especially children who have experienced trauma due to the disaster.
As part of its humanitarian response, on Friday, December 26, 2025, CMC Indonesia, with the support of Plan International, conducted a visit to Alue Canang Village. The purpose of this visit was to distribute Non-Food Items (NFI) and to provide psychosocial support to children and families affected by the floods, in order to help restore their emotional and mental well-being.
The arrival of the CMC Indonesia team was warmly welcomed by the local community, particularly by the Head of Alue Canang Village, who has been actively coordinating the response efforts at the evacuation site. This collaboration reflects a strong spirit of solidarity and collective commitment to rebuilding hope among disaster survivors, especially for the younger generation.
During the visit, the CMC Indonesia team facilitated psychosocial support activities for children, including group play, storytelling, drawing sessions, and light counseling. These activities were attended not only by displaced children but also by other children in the village, creating an inclusive, supportive, and cheerful environment despite the difficult circumstances.
Through light counseling sessions, children were encouraged to express their feelings, process their traumatic experiences, and gradually rebuild a sense of safety and self-confidence. Creative activities such as drawing and storytelling served as tools for emotional expression, while group play helped reduce fear, anxiety, and psychological distress.
In addition, the team provided a short awareness session for parents on the importance of maintaining both physical and mental health in evacuation settings, and on how to build warm, caring, and open communication with their children so that they feel supported and emotionally secure.
Through this initiative, CMC Indonesia calls upon all stakeholders, including government institutions and the private sector, to actively participate in post-disaster recovery efforts in East Aceh. Recovery should not be limited to material assistance alone, but must also include psychological and emotional support, especially for children as the future generation. Sustained and collective support will enable them to heal, regain hope, and move forward toward a better future.
