Mitigation Isn't Just a Discussion, It Must Become a Lifestyle for Communities in Disaster-stricken Areas |

Evacuation of flood victims in North Aceh, Indonesia.

Three provinces in Sumatra, Indonesia, were hit by floods. Hundreds of lives were lost, homes were destroyed, and even residential areas were wiped out. As of Tuesday, December 2, 2025, several areas remained inaccessible.

Aceh is a land familiar with disasters. We have witnessed devastating earthquakes, deadly tsunamis, floods that continue to occur every rainy season, and landslides that block access to residential areas.

This collective trauma should be our most valuable teacher. But two decades after the tsunami, what we see is an irony: disaster mitigation still revolves around repeated meetings, presentations, and discussion forums—rather than concrete preparedness on the ground, as we are witnessing in this current flood disaster.

FGDs have become an annual ritual. Invitations are sent out, speakers are invited, hotels are filled with mitigation banners, and photography sessions conclude with social media posts. But the question that remains is: What will be the follow-up after the final applause has died down?

A disaster observer once sharply criticized, "Disaster mitigation in Aceh is only strong in the headlines of FGDs, but weak in implementation."

And the facts on the ground seem to support that statement. Evacuation routes in several coastal areas are often missing signs or blocked by new buildings. Early warning systems, which should be the first line of defense, often do not function optimally or are not understood by the public. Even evacuation simulations, which were once routine, are now rarely heard of and have no impact.

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Even more worrying, mitigation is still viewed as a project, not an investment for the future. When the budget runs out, activities stop. There is no sustainability, performance evaluation, or impact measurement. This means Aceh continues to position itself in a reactive position—only acting after a disaster has already occurred.

Mitigation, however, is a long-term, systematic, and planned endeavor. It requires a disaster curriculum in schools, regular training for indigenous communities and village officials, maintenance of evacuation infrastructure, and updates to early warning technology. All of this must be implemented, not just designed.

It is time for the government, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), academics, and all stakeholders to stop using mitigation as mere rhetoric. Aceh does not need more directionless forums. Aceh needs concrete action: prepared villages, trained communities, and systems that work even when power outages and panic reign.

Disasters are inevitable, but preparedness is a choice. And that choice determines whether we become repeat victims or a society that learns from history. Enough talk—it's time for action.[]

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