Severe flooding across parts of Sumatra in late 2025 has caused widespread displacement, damaged infrastructure, and left many families without reliable access to food.
In response, women-led organizations across West Sumatra have mobilized to prepare and distribute more than 2 tons of rendang, a traditional Minangkabau beef dish, for victims of the floods.
Their efforts combine cultural traditions, communal solidarity, and efficient grassroots organizing in the face of disaster relief needs.
The Flood Crisis and Immediate Needs of Food
Heavy rains and extreme weather triggered floods and landslides in several provinces of northern Sumatra, including West Sumatra, Aceh, and North Sumatra. These events forced residents from their homes and placed strain on emergency shelters and relief operations.
With many areas cut off by damaged roads and limited access to markets, the need for durable, nutritious food was immediate.
In such circumstances, ready-to-eat meals that can withstand transportation challenges and provide sustenance over time are vital for displaced families.
Why Rendang?
Rendang is a traditional slow-cooked beef dish from the Minangkabau highlands. Rich in spices and cooked in coconut milk until the liquid evaporates, rendang has a long shelf life and does not require refrigeration, making it suitable for disaster relief conditions.
The dish also offers high caloric and protein content, which helps sustain people who may not have daily access to balanced meals during emergencies. These characteristics made rendang an ideal choice for the large-scale food assistance operation in West Sumatra.
The Role of West Sumatra’s Women Organizations
Across West Sumatra, women’s groups from different community networks came together to lead the cooking effort. This included members of the Family Welfare Movement (TP-PKK) of West Sumatra, Dharma Wanita Persatuan, and other local women’s associations.
These organizations have roots in community service and have traditionally played a role in managing family and social welfare issues.
For the flood response, they coordinated volunteers, sourced ingredients, and organized cooking stations at communal spaces such as the West Sumatra Governor’s Palace and municipal facilities.
Preparing Over 2 Tons of Rendang
The logistics behind producing more than 2 tons of rendang required careful planning and sustained effort. According to media reports, women volunteers cooked tens of large batches over several days, often preparing up to 500 kilograms of rendang in a single day.
The collective endeavor drew on local donations of beef and spices from farmers and residents, as well as contributions of labor from women who worked in shifts to manage preparation, cooking, and packaging.
Organizational Collaboration and Community Solidarity
One notable initiative was documented in Padang, where organizations partnered to help meet and exceed the original target of one ton of rendang. What began as a program called “Marandang untuk Sumatera” was expanded to reach a total of two tons of ready-to-eat food.
This program involved not only women’s organizations but also volunteers from the general public who wanted to contribute labor or supplies.
The collaboration reflected a shared cultural commitment to mutual aid in times of crisis, drawing on the communal spirit that is integral to Minangkabau society.
Packaging and Distribution
Once prepared, the rendang was properly packaged for distribution. Food was sent to evacuation centers and affected communities in West Sumatra, and also transported to harder-to-reach areas in Aceh and North Sumatra.
Women and youth volunteers worked together to coordinate transport and ensure the food reached families who had limited access to other forms of aid.
The coordination of distribution routes was crucial, especially where flooding had made travel difficult or slowed other forms of relief delivery.
More Than Just Food
The use of rendang in this humanitarian context went beyond mere nutrition. For many in the community, rendang is deeply symbolic, representing strength, resilience, and cultural identity.
The choice of rendang as a relief food reflects its importance in local traditions as well as its practical benefits.
In addition to physical sustenance, it offered a sense of familiarity and comfort to people struggling through displacement and loss.
Impact and Lessons for Future Disaster Relief
The success of this effort highlights how grassroots leadership and community mobilization can play a vital role in disaster response.
Women’s organizations demonstrated their capacity to organize large-scale food relief, bringing together volunteers, donors, and local leaders to address urgent needs effectively.
The initiative also sparked conversations about establishing permanent community kitchens and disaster preparedness plans that build on local cultural practices.
As climate-related and deforestation disasters become more frequent, such locally led responses could serve as important models for resilience and humanitarian support.
