Post-Disaster Recovery in Aceh Continues to Show Progress, Says Task Force

Home Affairs Minister and Head of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sumatra, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, has stated that the post-disaster recovery process in Aceh Province continues to show positive progress. Based on the government’s evaluation, conditions in various affected areas are now much better compared to when the disaster occurred. Various basic services that were previously disrupted are now operational, allowing community activities to gradually recover. “We evaluated what was achieved during the emergency response and transition periods. In essence, we have returned to normal. But it is not permanent; it is functional normalcy,” Tito said during the Coordination and Evaluation Meeting on the Handling and Acceleration of Post-Hydrometeorological Disaster Recovery in Aceh Province at the Governor’s Office. Recovery is evident across various indicators, ranging from governance, health, and education to infrastructure, the economy, and basic community services. In the governance sector, most government facilities are functioning again. Meanwhile, health facilities in affected areas have also resumed operations. In education, teaching and learning activities have restarted in the majority of affected schools, though Tito acknowledged that several schools still require further intervention due to building damage or locations still prone to disaster. The government is striving to accelerate the rehabilitation of educational facilities. “However, some are not yet ideal, such as schools. A few are still in tents or emergency spaces. Some are sharing premises with other schools, although the majority have returned to their original schools,” he explained. Recovery progress is also visible in the infrastructure sector, with most road and bridge access points usable again, normalizing mobility and goods distribution. Nevertheless, repairs to severely damaged road sections and bridges are still being pursued. In the economic sector, trading activities in markets, stalls, and other local businesses show a good recovery trend. Affected markets have resumed operations, restarting the economic wheel. Additionally, basic services such as fuel supply, electricity, and telecommunications are functioning again. Despite the achievements, the Home Affairs Minister stressed that the government will not stop at the current milestones. Various follow-up tasks, especially those related to infrastructure rehabilitation, river management, flood-prone area mitigation, and housing construction for affected residents, will continue to be accelerated through synergy between the central government, regional governments, and all relevant stakeholders.