Aid Distribution to Disaster Areas in Sumatra is Being Carried Out by Air

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – In response to the many disrupted land access routes due to natural disasters, the government will distribute aid to North Sumatra, Aceh, and West Sumatra via air. The government is committed to acting swiftly in addressing the impacts of hydrometeorological disasters in these three provinces.

"The government, through BNPB (National Disaster Management Agency), will send assistance via air. We cannot send aid through land infrastructure and cannot wait until land access is passable," said the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Pratikno, during a hybrid Ministerial Level Meeting (RTM) in Jakarta, Thursday (27/11/2025) evening.

Pratikno stated that the ongoing extreme weather is causing obstacles in the distribution of aid. One of the main challenges is that many land access routes are cut off. Although all teams from the relevant ministries/agencies have been deployed to the field to restore the disrupted access, the distribution of aid cannot wait for the completion of the access restoration.

To this end, air access was chosen to expedite the distribution of aid. "In accordance with the President's directive, all ministries/agencies, both at the central and regional levels, must prioritize public safety and ensure the fulfillment of basic needs until the post-disaster recovery stage," said Pratikno.

Pratikno stated that, based on data from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the disaster in Sumatra is a result of Tropical Cyclone Senyar, which has brought very high-intensity rainfall to Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra in recent days. This extreme weather has triggered hydrometeorological disasters in the three provinces, including floods, flash floods, and landslides.

The impact of the disaster resulted in many casualties, displaced individuals, and damage to infrastructure, including residential buildings, land access roads, bridges, electrical networks, and telecommunications networks. This situation also complicated the rapid assessment and data collection process by the joint team in the area, leading to a phased and continuously updated process.

"This disaster has claimed many victims and caused extensive damage, but the data is still being updated. Therefore, all relevant ministries and agencies must act quickly to address the impact of this disaster," said Pratikno.

Pratikno stated that all provinces affected by the disaster have declared a state of emergency. This serves as the basis for the expedited deployment of aid resources by the central government. "Each region has already established an emergency condition. This becomes our basis to act swiftly in providing maximum support from the center to the regions," he said.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has granted flexibility to local governments affected by disasters in utilizing Unexpected Expenditures (BTT) and reallocating budgets. The aim is to ensure that the needs for emergency disaster response can be met promptly.

Meanwhile, the Head of BNPB Suharyanto stated that his agency will conduct a Weather Modification Operation (OMC) to disperse clouds and distribute rainfall from the disaster-affected areas. This operation aims to reduce the effects of rainfall.

With the reduction of rainfall effects, this could facilitate efforts for the acceleration of emergency response and subsequent disaster mitigation in the short term. "OMC is necessary for the acceleration of emergency response," said Suharyanto, who is currently leading disaster emergency response in Tarutung, North Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra.

Suharyanto stated that to facilitate coordination among the relevant agencies, they initiated the establishment of Disaster Emergency Posts in the affected areas. This is because emergency handling must be carried out in an integrated and well-coordinated manner.

In addition to fulfilling the basic needs of affected residents, SAR operations will be a top priority during the emergency period.

The search and rescue (SAR) operation for the victims will be the main focus during the emergency response. "In addition to meeting the basic needs of the affected residents, the SAR operation will be the top priority during the emergency period," said Suharyanto.