PRR Task Force: Access to Isolated Villages in Aceh After Repeated Floods Being Improved

Banda Aceh (ANTARA) - The Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Acceleration Task Force (Satgas PRR) has stated that it is continuously working to improve access to five villages that have become isolated again in Central Aceh Regency following subsequent flash floods. “We are repairing (road and bridge access) again in the five isolated villages in Central Aceh,” said the Head of the Regional Post for the Satgas PRR, Safrizal ZA, in Greater Aceh on Tuesday. The statement was made by Safrizal ZA to the media after presenting the progress of the rehabilitation and reconstruction process or post-disaster recovery efforts in Aceh, at the auditorium of The Padee Hotel in Greater Aceh. Previously, Central Aceh was hit again by flash floods due to heavy rain, resulting in the collapse of two emergency bridges in Desa Burlah, Ketol Subdistrict, and an emergency bridge in Desa Terang Engon, Silih Nara Subdistrict, on Monday (6/4). In addition, heavy rain in Central Aceh also caused landslides at several locations on the provincial road Mendale-Bintang, Bintang-Simpang Kraft, the national road Pameu-Genting Gerbang, and the national road Takengon-Ise Ise. Safrizal explained that this repeated flooding presents a major task for the government, in this case the Satgas PRR. However, so far, the team has taken various handling measures. “This repeated flooding is a big PR that we must address, but the PU team is on standby at the location; if any access is cut off, like last night, it is immediately repaired,” he said. “Heavy vehicles certainly cannot pass yet, but small vehicles can already go through; we will try to fulfil all the needs in the area of those five villages,” thus Safrizal ZA.