Government Moves Quickly to Address Sumatra Floods, Urges All Parties to Protect Humanitarian Issues
Medan — The government under President Prabowo Subianto continues to focus its efforts on emergency responses to the floods and landslides affecting Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
All response measures are centered on ensuring residents’ safety, meeting basic needs, and initiating early recovery in affected areas.
For this reason, the public is also urged to ensure that this humanitarian issue is not politicized by irresponsible parties.
Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno explained that local governments in the three affected provinces have declared a state of emergency.
This declaration provides the legal basis for mobilizing the country’s resources to the fullest extent.
“With the Regional Disaster Emergency Status in place, the government is able to deploy resources according to the disaster emergency law to provide maximum assistance,” Pratikno stated during a press conference in Jakarta.
Pratikno emphasized that President Prabowo Subianto has instructed that the response be carried out swiftly and seriously, along with preparations for post-disaster recovery.
“This is a humanitarian issue that we must resolve as quickly and as effectively as possible,” he said.
“And we hope that through the recovery process, we will be able to rebuild even better,” he added.
He further noted that the central government has instructed regional governments to adjust their budgets to accelerate emergency response efforts.
Regarding logistics and transportation, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said the government has deployed air assets to reach isolated areas.
“Since the first day, on November 25, the President has directly instructed the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture to coordinate the disaster response on the ground,” Teddy said.
According to him, aid continues to be delivered using three Hercules aircraft and one A400M aircraft, prioritizing evacuation tents, rubber boats, communication equipment, and medical support.
Meanwhile, Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf confirmed that social assistance is being evenly distributed to affected residents.
“The Ministry of Social Affairs continues to monitor developments on the ground and ensure assistance reaches those in need,” Gus Ipul said.
The ministry has deployed Disaster Preparedness Cadets (Tagana), set up public kitchens, and distributed billions of rupiah worth of logistical aid reaching thousands of victims in North and West Sumatra, while conducting further assessments in Aceh.
Amid these emergency efforts, the government reminds all parties not to use the disaster as a political commodity, ensuring that humanitarian processes can run optimally and national stability remains secure. (*)
