With 500,000 displaced in Sumatra floods, why is President Prabowo rejecting foreign aid?

Nearly half a million people remain unable to return home and fatalities are approaching 1,000 after massive floods devastated Indonesia'sSumatra island. Yet, Jakarta is refusing to declare a national emergency or accept official foreign aid, in what's being seen as a major early test of President Prabowo Subianto's leadership.

A Test of Strength Amid a Crisis

Since the storms hit around December 16, areas like Aceh province have been reeling. According to Nikkei Asia, anger is rising over what many perceive as a slow government response, spurring comparisons to the devastating 2004Indian Ocean tsunami. The situation has created a rift, with Aceh's provincial government appealing directly to the United Nations (UN) for assistance, bypassing the central government.

President Prabowo, a figure not known for asking for help, appears determined to handle the crisis using only domestic resources. While this move could be aimed at projecting an image of national self-sufficiency, it risks becoming a major political liability as the humanitarian crisis deepens. Some reports estimate the total economic toll from the storms could reach $30 billion across the region, from Indonesia to Sri Lanka.

Growing Desperation on the Ground

As Jakarta holds back, warnings of famine and disease are growing in Aceh. Local residents and aid groups are pleading for more humanitarian support, criticizing the national disaster response as inadequate. One Indonesian minister has vowed to quickly restore damaged rice fields in Sumatra, but a concrete plan of action remains unclear.