Efforts to Recover Economy and Nutrition After Disaster

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Five months after a major flood struck Gampong (village) Batang Ara in Aceh Tamiang Regency, the villagers are still striving to restore their lives. The disaster that arrived at the end of 2025 destroyed many homes, with some even swept away by the current. To this day, some residents still live in temporary housing, while others have chosen to return to the village and build makeshift dwellings around their own land. Most Batang Ara residents depend on palm oil plantations around the village for their livelihood. Although the plantation conditions were also affected by the flood and will require years to become productive again, the villagers choose to stay because it is their only source of income. Batang Ara village head Amril is one of the residents who decided to return. Utilising driftwood and remaining building materials, he erected a simple hut not far from the location of his old house that was lost due to the flood. “The old house was there, but it’s been swept away,” he said. According to Amril, the community’s economic situation has become a far heavier problem after the disaster passed. Logistics aid is still received by residents, but the amount is starting to decrease. Meanwhile, the palm oil plants that form the backbone of the community’s economy cannot produce in the near future. “Here we can only rely on palm oil, because most of the community works in palm oil gardens. But because of this disaster, the palm oil plants must be replanted first, and only after three to four years can they be harvested,” he said. Therefore, Amril hopes that future aid to his village is not of a consumptive nature, but in all forms that can help the community rebuild their income sources. “I’m not rejecting donations, but if anyone wants to help our village, I hope for aid that can make us economically empowered again. For example, chicken or duck seedlings, or training that teaches the community to generate business opportunities,” he said. He admitted to having tried planting vegetables using polybags around his house. However, that effort has not yet succeeded because the plants that started growing were eaten by cattle roaming freely around the village environment. Amril stated that at least 177 households or around 600 people still need serious attention after the disaster. Among that number are 51 toddlers and dozens of school-aged children. Nutrition Recovery