JAKARTA – The government continues to strengthen Aceh’s post-flood recovery agenda by distributing humanitarian aid and reviewing the restoration of telecommunications networks in Aceh Tamiang Regency, Aceh Province.
This activity was carried out by the Ministry of Communication and Digital together with the entire national digital ecosystem as a form of cross-sectoral mutual cooperation.
Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, emphasized that the government’s presence aims to directly assist the community in the recovery process.
“We must carry out the recovery process together. The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, along with the entire ecosystem and our partners, are present today, inspecting and checking directly on the site, and bringing aid to our families and brothers and sisters in Aceh,” said Meutya.
The group involved Telkom, Telkomsel, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, XL Smart, APJII, Asperindo, as well as the leaders of RRI, TVRI, and LKBN Antara.
The logistical aid distributed included 118 clean water tanks with a capacity of 8,000 liters, medicines, clothing, prayer equipment, tents with toilet facilities, mosquito nets, drilled wells, and heavy equipment for cleaning the affected areas.
Regarding connectivity, Meutya stated that network recovery in Aceh has exceeded 95 percent, although several areas still face challenges.
“We acknowledge that there is still work to be done in Benar Meriah, Aceh Tamiang, and Gayo Lues, where the recovery rate is still around 60 to 80 percent, depending on the electricity supply,” he explained.
In terms of clean water provision, PT Pertamina (Persero) restored 12 residents’ wells and repaired water sanitation facilities at a number of health service centers in Aceh Tamiang.
Pertamina’s VP of Corporate Communication, Muhammad Baron, emphasized the importance of clean water for affected communities.
“To this day, many residents still struggle to obtain potable water for their basic daily needs. Therefore, we are gradually reactivating residents’ wells to make clean water more accessible,” he said.
Amidst these recovery efforts, the public is urged to remain vigilant against provocation.
The Executive Director of Arus Survei Indonesia, Ali Rif’an, reminded that separatist symbols should not be normalized in public spaces.
“Therefore, its appearance in public spaces must not be normalized,” he said, adding that allowing separatist symbols could trigger a domino effect.
“If left unchecked, this could trigger a domino effect, symbolic escalation, and open up space for the revival of old conflict narratives.”
Ali emphasized that the threat of separatism often emerges through symbols and narratives, including provocation in the digital space, so collective vigilance is considered crucial to maintaining stability and the sustainability of Aceh’s recovery.