Survivors in Pidie Jaya Rebuild Lives Through Stimulus Fund Utilisation
Stimulus funds distributed to residents affected by hydrometeorological disasters in Pidie Jaya Regency, Aceh, have not only helped repair damaged homes but also served as a catalyst for family economic revival. Amid the post-disaster recovery process, residents have begun rebuilding their livelihoods through small businesses emerging within temporary housing areas (huntara).
Milawati, a resident of Meunasah Lhok Village, is one of the beneficiaries who used the assistance to repair her damaged house and clear residual mud from flooding. However, the recovery process she underwent was not easy, as floods struck again while her home was still being cleaned.
Despite these limitations, Milawati chose to rise. Together with her family, she opened a small business in the huntara area, selling various snacks to meet daily needs. “We use the proceeds from these sales for our daily necessities and to support the family economy,” she said in a written statement on Sunday (21/6/2026). She made the remarks at the Meunasah Lhok Village Huntara Complex, Meureudu District, Pidie Jaya Regency, Aceh, in early June 2026.
Milawati acknowledged that the Rp8 million stimulus aid she received, supplemented by Rp200,000 in cooperative funds, greatly assisted her family’s recovery. She currently lives with her husband in the huntara, while her children work outside the region and one is still studying at an Islamic boarding school.
A similar story was experienced by Salwati, another resident of Meunasah Lhok Village. A portion of the stimulus funds she received was used as capital for a small business she now runs in the huntara area. “This stall is to cover daily shopping money,” said Salwati. She sells various foods and drinks to meet the needs of surrounding residents, while also providing a new source of income amidst limited post-disaster employment opportunities.
The growth of small businesses in the huntara area demonstrates that the assistance from the Task Force for the Acceleration of Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (Satgas PRR) in Sumatra not only functions to restore physical damage from disasters but also serves as a foundation for community economic recovery. Residents are beginning to rebuild their independence and optimism to shape a better life.
The stories of Milawati and Salwati illustrate that behind the disaster lies a spirit to rise. Through government support and cooperation from various parties, the people of Pidie Jaya are slowly rebuilding their lives, turning the aid received not merely into a means of recovery, but also into new hope for a better future.