Disaster Recovery Task Force: 80 per cent of disaster-affected areas cleared of mud

Jakarta — The Acceleration Task Force for Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (Satgas PRR) following the Sumatra disaster has reported that 80 per cent of disaster-affected areas in Aceh Province, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra have been cleared of mud.

Amran, the spokesperson for the Satgas PRR, stated that the mud clearance process is an important component of the post-disaster rehabilitation phase as it directly relates to the recovery of community activities, including in residential areas, public facilities, and road access.

“Mud clearance forms part of the post-disaster rehabilitation phase aimed at restoring public access and ensuring that public facilities can resume functioning,” Amran said in a statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.

According to the latest Satgas PRR data as of Monday 9 March, of a total of 508 locations targeted for mud clearance across the three affected provinces, 406 locations have been successfully cleared, representing approximately 80 per cent. Meanwhile, 102 other locations remain under treatment.

Aceh Province is the region with the largest number of clearance locations. Of a total of 455 locations targeted for clearance, 366 locations have been completed. Meanwhile, 89 other locations remain under work.

In North Sumatra Province, clearance operations are being conducted at 24 locations. Of this total, 11 locations have been cleared and 13 other locations remain in the working phase.

In West Sumatra Province, the mud clearance process has been fully completed. A total of 29 affected locations have been successfully cleared, achieving 100 per cent progress.

Amran also cited several educational facilities in East Aceh that have been fully cleared, both inside buildings and in surrounding areas. “Several schools such as Lokop Primary School and Lokop Junior Secondary School in Lokop District, East Aceh, for example, have been cleared 100 per cent, both indoors and in the school environment,” he said.