Disaster response efforts for floods and landslides in several regions of Sumatra continue to show positive progress.
Government assistance delivered in stages is now being directly felt by affected communities, particularly in Aceh, enabling recovery efforts to move forward and allowing residents to gradually breathe easier.
The government, together with state-owned enterprises (SOEs), has deployed 1,066 volunteers and 109 trucks carrying humanitarian aid to support emergency response operations. Aceh has become one of the priority areas for the initial distribution.
The assistance includes basic necessities such as food, clean water, baby supplies, medicines, tents, blankets, and other supporting logistics.
Chief Operating Officer of Danantara Indonesia and Head of the SOE Holding Agency (BP BUMN), Dony Oskaria, emphasized that SOE involvement reflects a national responsibility.
“SOEs belong to the people of Indonesia. Therefore, whenever the people are in need, our presence is not an option—it is an obligation,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) have played a key role in restoring infrastructure, particularly bridges and vital access routes damaged by the disaster.
Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army (KSAD), General Maruli Simanjuntak, stated that the Army was directly tasked with handling damaged bridges across Sumatra in accordance with the President’s directive.
“In this regard, I have also been appointed as the task force commander to manage bridges throughout Indonesia. The President has instructed me to focus on disaster-affected areas,” Maruli said.
The Army has prepared 18 Bailey bridge units for affected regions. To date, seven Bailey bridges have been completed and are already in use by the community, while 11 others are still under construction or in the process of material delivery.
“So far, we have completed seven Bailey bridges. Six are in the installation phase, five units are already at ports, and three are still delayed on the roads because road repairs are required,” Maruli explained.
He added that the work is being carried out amid difficult terrain and limited access. “To reach the current condition, I believe our personnel have worked extraordinarily hard,” he said.
In addition to Bailey bridges, the Army is also handling plans to repair 37 Aramco bridges.
Maruli noted that the process is more complex, as it requires detailed surveys and the delivery of construction components from Jakarta, where stock availability is limited.
Support from the central government has also been strengthened through the provision of clothing assistance. Minister of Home Affairs Muhammad Tito Karnavian stated that new clothing has been prepared for disaster-affected residents in Sumatra.
“The total is 106,000 pieces,” Tito said, referring to new clothing supplied by national garment companies.