A series of tropical storms and monsoon rains have swept through Southeast and South Asia, causing landslides and widespread floods that stretched from the rainforests of Sumatra to farms in the highlands of Sri Lanka.Over the past week, natural disasters in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam have claimed the lives of more than 1,770 people.The governor of Aceh province, Muzakir Manaf, confirmed that response teams are still searching for bodies in the mud that has reached waist level, but hunger is one of the most dangerous threats facing remote villages that are difficult to reach.He told reporters that "a large number of people are lacking basic necessities, and aid has not yet reached many remote areas in Aceh."He added: "People are not dying from the floods, but from hunger... this is the reality."Manaf also stated that entire villages were swept away by floodwaters in the rainforest-covered Aceh Tamiang region, noting that "Aceh Tamiang region has been completely destroyed, from top to bottom, including roads leading to the sea."Indonesia's Sumatra island, which was hit by floods, is bracing for more heavy rain, as the governor of one of the affected provinces warned that the death toll has surpassed 900 amid fears of the spread of hunger.He said: "Many villages and districts are now just names."Analysts suggest that Indonesia may avoid declaring a "disaster state" and seeking additional international aid, as this would show it is unable to bear responsibility, although the Indonesian government confirmed this week its ability to handle the consequences.Humanitarian organizations fear the scale of the disaster is unprecedented, even for a country prone to natural disasters.The death toll in Indonesia rose to 908 yesterday, according to the disaster management agency, with 410 people still missing.Meanwhile, the death toll in Sri Lanka also exceeded 100 on Friday, bringing the total to 607, as the government warned that more rain increases the risk of new landslides.Thailand, in turn, reported 276 deaths, Malaysia two, and at least two people died in Vietnam after heavy rains triggered landslides.
