By: Teuku Rasya )*
Aceh, a province rich in culture and history, is once again in the spotlight as it attempts to address natural and social challenges. In early 2026, the central government, through the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), strengthened strategic measures to accelerate Aceh’s recovery from the hydrometeorological disaster. One policy widely appreciated by the public is weather modification operations as a strategy to control extreme rainfall. This effort aims to reduce rainfall intensity to accelerate the recovery process while protecting the safety of residents. Through hundreds of cloud seeding sorties using materials such as sodium chloride and quicklime, the government is working to regulate weather conditions in disaster-prone areas, including Aceh and the surrounding areas.
The people of Aceh have welcomed the weather modification initiative led by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), in collaboration with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and other relevant parties. For residents still recovering from the floods and landslides at the end of last year, this policy is seen as a swift and responsible response from the government. The immediate impact of weather modification is a reduction in the potential for extreme rainfall, which could hamper aid distribution, evacuations, and the construction of temporary and permanent housing for those displaced.
Abdul Muhari, Head of the National Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center at the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), stated that 4,280 temporary shelters have entered the construction phase. In Aceh Province, support from various parties has resulted in the handover of 200 housing units to affected residents in several priority locations. BNPB is also intensifying its Weather Modification Operations (OMC) to control potential extreme weather that could hamper the recovery process.
As of mid-January 2026, the construction of temporary shelters continued to accelerate, while the intensification of weather modification operations (OMC) had reached over a thousand sorties across Sumatra, including Aceh. This reflects strong cross-agency synergy in ensuring comprehensive post-flood recovery.
Amidst the community’s enthusiasm for rebuilding their region, a strong commitment has emerged among Acehnese people to maintaining stability and unity. In line with this spirit of recovery, residents firmly reject any form of separatist group that attempts to disrupt the peace and the rehabilitation process. This statement comes amidst the momentum of recovery, where the community prioritizes the spirit of unity and rejects separatist symbols or groups that were once part of the past conflict. The community recognizes that maintaining national unity is an integral part of the process of rebuilding a better life in Aceh.
Aceh experienced a long conflict with armed separatist groups such as the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) until the Helsinki Peace Agreement was reached in 2005. Since then, Aceh’s political dynamics have shifted toward a more constructive direction within the framework of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. Although separatist symbols and narratives occasionally emerge in the public sphere, the government and public respond with vigilance and firm rejection. For Acehnese, maintaining peace and promoting development are considered far more important than reviving old ideologies that could potentially divide unity.
Acehnese support for weather modification policies and opposition to the rise of separatist symbols stem from a shared awareness of the importance of stability and progress. The community believes the current primary focus is post-disaster recovery, from infrastructure rehabilitation and economic recovery to community empowerment. The local government is actively engaging residents in volunteer activities, development projects, and strengthening basic services such as health and education.
The weather modification operation, deemed effective, has received widespread support as it is understood to be a crucial component of disaster mitigation in areas prone to extreme rainfall, such as Aceh. This support reflects public trust in government policies and demonstrates a strong spirit of mutual cooperation. Residents hope that synergy between the community, local government, and the central government will enable Aceh to emerge stronger, with increasingly solid social and economic resilience.
Selamat Ginting, a political and military observer from the National University, stated that synergy between the authorities, local government, and the community is essential to ensure Aceh remains safe and peaceful, and focused on the recovery and development agenda going forward. “Our primary focus now is recovery and helping victims recover. Unity is Aceh’s strength.”
Furthermore, the Acehnese people’s rejection of the existence of separatist groups amidst disaster recovery demonstrates the political and social maturity of the local community. Rather than being divided by issues irrelevant to their well-being, the community chose to focus on aspects that bring progress and security. This underscores that Aceh is not only recovering physically from the disaster but also growing stronger in terms of national unity and integrity.
Over time, the synergy between the central and regional governments and the Acehnese people is believed to continue to grow. The climate modification policy, fully supported by the people, and the rejection of harmful separatist efforts, serve as a clear illustration of how national spirit and cooperation can form a strong foundation for facing the future. Aceh has not only recovered from natural disasters but also emerged as a symbol of resilience, a united, resilient, and hopeful society.
)* Public policy observer