Quick Response from Aceh BPBD-DLHK Prevents Health Issues in Temporary Shelters
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Head of the Aceh Regional Command Post for the Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) Task Force, Safrizal Zakaria Ali, has commended the swift response of the Aceh Tengah district government in tackling sanitation issues at temporary shelters (huntara) for disaster-affected residents in Ketol District, thereby preventing health problems.
The appreciation was conveyed after the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and the Aceh Tengah Environment and Forestry Service (DLHK) moved quickly to pump out faecal waste at two shelter locations on Monday (22/6).
“In a disaster situation, local government must be present actively and responsively. We greatly appreciate the Aceh Tengah administration, particularly the BPBD and DLHK, who immediately went to the field upon receiving reports regarding sanitation problems at the huntara,” said Safrizal.
The emergency response, carried out less than 24 hours after the report was received, targeted the Huntara Kampung Burlah in Pondok Balik and Huntara Kampung Bintang Pepara on Jalan Tengah, Ketol District.
The local government’s quick action was a follow-up to a written recommendation submitted by the PRR Aceh Command Post’s Regional Expert, Zam Zam Mubarak, on Sunday (21/6).
In his field report, Zam Zam revealed that the communal septic tank for the public toilets at the Kampung Bintang Pepara temporary shelter was full and overflowing. This condition had the potential to trigger an Extraordinary Event (KLB) of infectious diseases if not addressed immediately.
“The condition was already overflowing and risked triggering the spread of skin diseases, diarrhoea, and other health problems, especially for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly. On the other hand, residents had no access to septic tank suction fleets nor the independent financial capacity to address it,” said Zam Zam.
Beyond the now-resolved sanitation issue, the Aceh PRR Task Force also noted several other problems that still require attention and further intervention from various parties. Meanwhile, residents still living in the temporary shelters are also beginning to face the threat of food insecurity. Several staple food items such as rice, cooking oil, sugar, and eggs have been reported to be running low, particularly for vulnerable groups like the elderly, pregnant women, and children.
Responding to these conditions, Safrizal requested that all PRR Task Force experts serving in various regions continue to build active communication and synergy with local governments and relevant agencies. According to him, the presence of experts in the field plays a strategic role as a bridge between the community and the government in identifying various problems that arise post-disaster.
“Experts must be the eyes and ears of the government in the field. Build strong coordination with all stakeholders so that problems can be detected earlier and handled together. In that way, the recovery process for the community’s physical, social, and economic life can proceed more effectively,” said Safrizal.