Mualem States Aceh Disaster Recovery Only 30% Complete: Infrastructure and Bridges Still Unrepaired

JAKARTA, VIVA – Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf (Mualem) reported that disaster recovery efforts in the province have only reached 25 to 30 per cent so far. He stressed that many issues remain unresolved, particularly regarding the reconstruction of basic infrastructure in affected areas. ‘A lot remains unfulfilled. Infrastructure isn’t done, bridges aren’t done. Schools and other facilities too,’ Mualem told reporters on Monday, 25 May 2026. Mualem noted that the nationwide blackout in Sumatra exacerbated the recovery situation in Aceh. ‘I think it’s severe. Even the national highway is experiencing queues,’ he said. However, Mualem confirmed that electricity in affected areas has now returned to normal. ‘It’s normal,’ he added. Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian, as Chairman of the Sumatra Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Acceleration Task Force (Kasatgas PRR), stated that disaster management in three Sumatran provinces has now entered the permanent recovery phase, or rehabilitation and reconstruction (rehab rekon). During the meeting, the minister reported on the disaster management progress and the government’s follow-up plans, including the preparation of a Master Plan (Renduk) for accelerating rehabilitation and reconstruction in affected areas. ‘I reported two things: first, the current situation update, and second, what we will do moving forward, especially the approval of the master plan to accelerate disaster rehab and rekon in the three Sumatran provinces,’ he said. The minister explained that disaster management is carried out in three phases: emergency response, transition, and permanent recovery. He noted that the emergency response phase has proceeded well with the involvement of all ministries/agencies (K/L), local governments (Pemda), and various stakeholders. He stated that government services in affected areas have resumed. Administrative activities at regency, district, and village levels, previously disrupted, are gradually returning to normal, though some affected residents still live in temporary housing (huntara) or utilise the Housing Waiting Fund (DTH). Additionally, essential services such as electricity, fuel, petrol stations, internet networks, hospitals, and Puskesmas have resumed operations. The government still faces challenges in some isolated villages due to landslide-affected road access.