BANGKOK, 1 December 2025 – Tens of thousands of children are out of school in Indonesia and Thailand after floods and landslides killed at least 670 people and affected about 5 million, Save the Children said [1].
In Sumatra in Indonesia, more than 500 people have been killed and about 500 are missing after torrential rain triggered landslides and caused widespread flooding, with the north of the island most affected [2]. At least 1000 schools have been damaged and closed in Aceh and Sumatra, with others being used as emergency shelters, meaning education is disrupted for tens of thousands of children [3].
Save the Children teams delivering emergency aid in northern Sumatra said children and families are in urgent need of food and shelter, with rain and rough seas hampering response efforts. Some communities are still cut off by flood waters and landslides and roads are damaged, slowing down the distribution of lifesaving supplies.
Speaking from Nias island, one of the impacted areas in Sumatra, Fadli Usman, Humanitarian Director, Save the Children Indonesia said:
“Blocked roads, power cuts and the disruption of essential services are putting children’s health and psychological wellbeing at risk. This is an uncertain time for children – they have lost homes, schools and loved ones.
“It’s vital that children’s needs and rights are prioritised, including providing safe places for them and their families to stay, nutritious food, access to clean water and protection.”
About 76,000 children are out of school due to unprecedented floods in southern Thailand, according to an assessment carried out by Save the Children in 7 out of the 12 affected provinces. Flooding in southern Thailand has forced schools to close, with some being used as temporary shelters for people who fled from their homes as waters rose.
Crowded shelters increase protection risks for children, and thousands of children have no access to online learning due to power cuts and damaged infrastructure.
Guillaume Rachou, Save the Children Thailand Executive Director, said:
“Floods hit children the hardest. Overnight, they lost access to school, safe places to play, and basic services like clean water and healthcare.
“Getting classrooms cleaned, repaired, and reopened is essential so children can return to school safely.
“With shelters overcrowded, risks of exploitation, separation from caregivers and emotional distress for children increase. Without urgent support, children’s safety, learning, and mental health will continue to deteriorate”.
Save the Children Thailand is creating safe spaces for children in the evacuation centres where they can play and learn, as well as delivering essential aid for flood affected families, including baby kits, children’s kits, and dignity kits with essential hygiene items.
References
Save the Children has been operating in Indonesia since 1976 and works in 20 of 38 provinces on humanitarian responses and programmes linked to education, health and nutrition, child protection and poverty.
Save the Children has been working in Thailand since 1979, focusing on child protection, education, child rights governance, livelihoods, and humanitarian responses for children and youth across the country.
[1] Latest available government data states 3.6 million people have been affected by floods in Thailand and 1.5 m in Indonesia.
[2] https://gis.bnpb.go.id/BANSORSUMATERA2025/
[3] Data from National Secretariat for Safe School, Indonesia