Bener Meriah Post-Disaster Recovery Spending Reaches Rp7 Billion
The Bener Meriah regency administration in Aceh is accelerating post-disaster infrastructure development to restore connectivity between villages and access for residents to economic activities. It aims to turn all available recovery funding into completed works before December 2026.
According to the results of monitoring and evaluation by the Sumatra Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Acceleration Task Force, recovery spending in Bener Meriah had reached Rp7.051 billion, or 25.16 per cent of the Rp28.020 billion allocation.
The funding comes from inter-regional Special Financial Assistance and the Aceh Special Autonomy Fund. It comprises Rp25 billion from Pematangsiantar City, Rp1 billion from Sawahlunto City, Rp1 billion from Pesisir Selatan Regency, and Rp1.020 billion from the Aceh Special Autonomy Fund.
The spending is focused on infrastructure directly linked to public safety and daily activities. Projects include clearing and building a retaining wall at Bener Lukup II in Bener Kelipah district; constructing a retaining wall on the Simpang Blang Rongka–Alur Pongkeh road in Timang Gajah district; and building a water intake structure and pipeline network in Blang Rakal village, Pintu Rime Gayo district.
Bener Meriah Regent Tagore Abubakar said restoring bridges was a priority because hydrometeorological disasters had severed many community routes.
“As we know, 154 bridges in Bener Meriah were swept away by hydrometeorological disasters,” Tagore said in a written statement on Friday (16 October 2026).
Several bridges are now back in service, helping to restore residents’ mobility. Reopening access to villages, districts and plantation areas has also facilitated the transport of agricultural produce and revived local economic activity.
“The economy is moving again, and connections to plantations, districts and villages have been restored,” Tagore said.
To speed up the remaining work, Tagore instructed all government agencies receiving the funds to strengthen oversight and promptly resolve problems on the ground. The local administration is also increasing its readiness for possible further floods and landslides as rainfall intensifies.
“As we know, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has issued a warning that rainfall in October and November will be quite intense and heavy. We have also seen several roads cut off, but, God willing, they have now been repaired,” he added.
Imran, Deputy Head of Planning, Control, Analysis and Evaluation at the National Post of the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Task Force, urged the local administration to monitor the progress of each project daily. Additional workers, working hours and equipment could be deployed to meet the target while maintaining quality.
“Progress can no longer be tracked monthly or weekly, but must be tracked daily. If necessary, add workers or equipment,” Imran said.