As you may know, at the beginning of the month, devastating floods and landslides caused by adverse weather and successive typhoons rolled through Indonesia. To date, more than 1,000 people have been confirmed dead, and many are still missing. This has had a huge impact in Northern Sumatra (Aceh province), which is home to the communities where we have our longest and strongest relationships. Repeated days of nonstop rain led to the complete decimation of roads, houses, farms, and bridges. One area in the province received over 16 inches of rain in a day. More than a week after the rains stopped, these communities still lack electricity and internet and remain disconnected from one another. Fortunately, we were able to contact our key partners from Ketiara, Permata Gayo, and Kokowagayo and have confirmed that they are in good health. It will likely be weeks before the total damage can be assessed, as some of these farms and neighborhoods are currently inaccessible.
This will undoubtedly have an impact on coffee production, both in Aceh and Sumatra as a whole. The major road access between Medan (the business center for exportation) and Aceh has been washed away, with no real timeline for repair. If you are expecting incoming Sumatra coffees, please note that these will be delayed.
Our thoughts remain with our partners, their families, and their communities during this incredibly challenging time. If you would like to support our friends and suppliers in Northern Sumatra, we will be donating and collecting funds through December 24th. The mutual-aid donations will then be sent to Ketiara Cooperative to support their ongoing distribution of food, clothing, and other necessities to the surrounding community. If you are able, please donate here.