Safrizal: Government Ensures Directed and Sustainable Recovery for Aceh

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Head of the Aceh Region Command Post for the Task Force for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) Post-Sumatra Disaster, Safrizal Zakaria Ali, has emphasised that the government is ensuring the post-disaster recovery in Aceh proceeds in a directed and sustainable manner. He also conveyed that the wheels of government in the affected areas have now returned to stability. Public services are operating normally, and state apparatus have returned to their respective positions to ensure that the administrative needs of the community are met without hindrance. “The government is present and working. This consistency is crucial to ensure the recovery process runs in a directed and sustainable manner,” said Safrizal in his statement in Jakarta on Tuesday. He also detailed various indicators of progress covering aspects from infrastructure to the environment. The recovery of health facilities, places of worship, and inter-regional connectivity are now top priorities. The clean-up programme for residual materials through a cash-for-work scheme is even seen as providing dual impacts, accelerating environmental recovery while serving as an economic stimulus for the local community. At the same time, the acceleration of temporary housing (huntara) and permanent housing (huntap) construction continues to be pushed to provide certainty of shelter for affected residents. Not only focusing on physical recovery, Safrizal also highlighted the importance of leadership stability during the transition period. As a figure who once served as Acting Governor of Aceh, he is considered successful in maintaining regional conduciveness, from overseeing political transitions in the regional elections to supporting academic integrity at Syiah Kuala University through his role as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. According to him, synergy between the government and academics is key to ensuring that every recovery policy is data-based and truly on target. Safrizal acknowledged that the challenges faced are indeed significant. However, he emphasised that the word “heavy” is not a complaint, but a reminder of the great responsibility that must be addressed with hard work and collaboration from all parties. He affirmed that the most important thing is not just about speed or slowness, but ensuring that every recovery step truly enables the people of Aceh to rise again stronger.