• Death toll from Indonesia floods surpasses 900, with hundreds still missing
• Starvation is becoming a critical threat in remote areas, according to officials
• Over 1,790 deaths reported across Southeast Asia due to related natural disasters
• Authorities are criticized for a slow response in meeting the needs of survivors
• Environmental issues like deforestation exacerbating the crisis

The death toll in Indonesia from devastating floods and landslides on Sumatra island has surpassed 900 people, according to reports from the country's disaster management agency. The situation is exacerbated by fears of starvation in remote communities that remain cut off from supplies and assistance. The disaster has unfolded amid a series of tropical storms and monsoonal rains affecting large areas of Southeast and South Asia, with over 1,790 lives lost across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam as a result of these natural catastrophes, as reported by Channel News Asia and BBC.

In Aceh, one of the hardest hit areas, Governor Muzakir Manaf stated that many areas remain untouched and communications are severely hampered. "People are not dying from the flood, but from starvation," he warned, highlighting the urgency of basic necessities in remote regions such as Aceh Tamiang. Entire villages have reportedly been washed away, which increases the scale of the humanitarian crisis. More than 520 people are still unaccounted for and efforts to reach isolated areas have been hindered by infrastructural damage, according to India Times and South China Morning Post.

Survivors have voiced sharp criticism towards the Indonesian government for its slow disaster response, with some expressing feelings of betrayal over the reluctance to declare a national disaster. Aceh resident Munawar Liza Zainal stated, "This is an extraordinary disaster that must be faced with extraordinary measures." Such a declaration would allow for better resource allocation and coordination of efforts. Analysts suggest that the government may fear that requesting foreign aid would reflect inadequacy, despite assurances that they can handle the crisis, as reported by Dawn and India Times.

As the floodwaters begin to recede, the full extent of destruction in affected areas like Aek Ngadol in North Sumatra is becoming clearer. Humanitarian groups are highlighting the unprecedented scale of the calamity, with some residents salvaging mud-soaked furniture from their homes. Climate change is being blamed for increasing the severity and unpredictability of monsoon rains, with rampant logging and deforestation further intensifying the impact of such natural disasters. These factors have made communities in Sumatra particularly vulnerable, according to reports from BBC and Channel News Asia.