92% Progress Achieved as Aceh River Recovery Moves Downstream
Emergency handling of water resource infrastructure affected by disasters in Aceh Province has reached 92.06 per cent progress. This positive achievement serves as a strong foundation to continue further recovery efforts, which are comprehensively designed to continue until 2028.
The Head of the Sumatra I River Basin Organisation (BWS), Asyari, stated that physical progress in handling the affected areas continues to move forward.
“As of now, the progress of the handling has reached 92.06 per cent,” Asyari said in a written statement on Sunday (13/09/2026).
During the emergency response period, field work has been fully focused on restoring the function of water resource infrastructure. This technical handling includes the cleaning and normalisation of rivers and estuaries, the reinforcement of banks and embankments, and the removal of silt from irrigation networks. The team is also working hard to ensure the availability of clean water supplies for the community.
“These steps are intended to restore the function of river flows and irrigation networks, reduce the potential risk of further disasters, and support the recovery of activities for affected communities,” said Asundar.
Physical progress in the Pidie, Pidie Jaya, Bireuen, Bener Meriah, and Aceh Tengah regencies has currently reached 87.79 per cent. This achievement consists of embankment and levee reinforcement at 94.68 per cent, irrigation area handling at 85.84 per cent, and river normalisation at 78.03 per cent.
In these areas, the handling of five estuaries using heavy excavators has been declared fully complete. Dredging using dredgers is still ongoing in three other estuaries. BWS Sumatra I is also conducting drilling at three well points around the sinkhole area in Bener Meriah.
Meanwhile, progress in North Aceh, East Aceh, and Aceh Tamiang has recorded 91.04 per cent. Bank and levee reinforcement has reached 92.55 per cent, while the normalisation of rivers and irrigation channels has reached 84.74 per cent. The provision of clean water through the construction of 24 borehole well points in these areas has even reached 100 per cent completion.
Emergency handling in the West Aceh, Gayo Lues, and Southeast Aceh regions has also been successfully completed at 100 per cent. The primary works include bank reinforcement and river normalisation to restore flow functions and suppress the risk of subsequent flooding.
Once all emergency handling is completed, BWS Sumatra I will immediately proceed to the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase. The handling will be executed in an integrated manner from upstream to downstream through the construction of sabo dams and estuary improvements.
“We hope that this handling will not only restore the condition of the disaster-affected infrastructure but also strengthen the river control and protection system, thereby providing better benefits and a sense of security for the people of Aceh,” concluded Asyari.