Aid to Aceh Distributed via Air and Sea

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – To address the ongoing disruption of land access, the distribution of logistical aid to disaster-affected areas in Aceh is being carried out via air and sea. The distribution process is being expedited as the condition of the affected residents becomes increasingly critical.

The distribution of aid by dropping it directly from the air began on Sunday (30/11/2025) morning. This method was chosen because most land access to and from the affected areas in Aceh is still cut off, especially in the mountainous regions.

The distribution pattern utilizes aircraft and helicopters belonging to the military. The logistics being distributed consist of food, clean water, medicines, and clothing.

Upon the arrival of the aircraft or helicopter at specific points in the affected area, logistics are immediately dropped from the air. Meanwhile, on the ground, a number of TNI soldiers on standby directly receive the logistics. After being gathered, the logistics are then distributed to the affected residents.

The distribution pattern was agreed upon by several officials from the central and local governments after reviewing the affected areas in Gampong Blang Awee, Meureudu District, Pidie Jaya Regency, Aceh, on Saturday (29/11/2025). This pattern was chosen after they heard the complaints and urgent needs of the affected residents.

From what the residents conveyed, Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin assessed that the distribution of aid could no longer be delayed. The distribution process must be carried out as soon as possible because the condition of the residents is already very urgent and requires immediate assistance. Based on this, the method of distributing aid by dropping it directly from the air was chosen.

"Starting Sunday and onwards, the government will bring all vital necessities for refugees throughout Aceh. To expedite the process, military aircraft and helicopters will drop aid from the air to every affected area. The aid that is dropped will be received by military personnel stationed on the ground to subsequently distribute it to the refugees," he stated.

On that occasion, Sjafrie urged all relevant parties to promptly purchase or prepare the necessities to be provided to the residents. He requested that the process of preparing these necessities be carried out swiftly without the need for further meetings. "No need for meetings anymore, take direct action," he emphasized.

As the distribution of aid is being carried out, Sjafrie stated that the government is promptly preparing the necessities for the next phase of handling, which is the rehabilitation of heavily damaged infrastructure. This includes land transportation access, electrical networks, and telecommunications. The aim is to alleviate the isolation that is still occurring in several areas.

The Deputy I Assistant for Territorial Affairs of the Iskandar Muda Military Command, Colonel Inf Fransisco, explained that all affected area posts have been instructed to record the coordinates of villages that are still isolated, as a basis for air aid distribution. He acknowledged that communication network issues had temporarily hindered the process.

"Therefore, emergency communication devices from Starlink were first sent to the affected areas, particularly in the mountainous regions of Bener Meriah and Aceh Tengah. Starlink is provided to facilitate coordination," he said.

Fransisco stated that, in addition to assisting with the distribution of aid, the military air transport also helped in the transportation of materials for the recovery of the electricity network. "To strengthen the process of aid distribution and the air transportation of materials, we received support to increase the number of helicopters from three units to six units," he said.

Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian stated that the restoration of the electricity network is another priority currently being addressed. It was mentioned that PLN has sent 30 tons of materials to construct new electricity towers from Jakarta to Aceh.

The transportation of the material was carried out using a helicopter capable of carrying six tons of material per day. With this capacity, Tito predicts that the process of transferring all the material will be completed in five days.

After all the materials have been moved, the next process is the construction work which will take two days. "God willing, next week, electricity and communication will return to normal," he said.

In addition to air transport, the distribution of aid to the affected areas in Aceh was also carried out using sea vessels. The assistance provided includes food supplies, clean water, women's and children's necessities, sleeping equipment, generators, rubber boats, and Starlink devices.

The Head of the Data, Information, and Disaster Communication Center of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Abdul Muhari, stated that the aid was dispatched from the Ulee Lheue Port in Banda Aceh on a fast boat, Express Bahari, starting Sunday. The vessel is carrying assistance to five regions, namely the City of Lhokseumawe, North Aceh Regency, East Aceh, the City of Langsa, and Aceh Tamiang.

"The total assistance weighing 27 tons will dock at two locations, namely the Krueng Geukueh Port in Lhokseumawe to reach the areas of Lhokseumawe and North Aceh. Subsequently, the ship will stop at the Kuala Langsa Port to reach the regions of Langsa, East Aceh, and Aceh Tamiang," he stated.

Amid the ongoing distribution process by air and sea, Aceh Regional Secretary M Nasir stated that his team continues to strive to open the land access that has been cut off to and from the affected areas in Aceh. The opening of land access is necessary to further expedite the evacuation and distribution of aid.

Starting Sunday, officers will begin work to reopen the disrupted land access so that the evacuation process and distribution of aid can be carried out more quickly.

To date, the Aceh government, along with the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), has continued efforts to open access to the isolated mountainous areas of Aceh, particularly Bener Meriah and its surrounding areas. One step taken is building Bailey bridges, or portable steel truss bridges, that can be assembled quickly.

"We have sent heavy equipment there. Starting Sunday, officers will begin work to reopen the disrupted land access so that the evacuation and distribution of aid can be carried out more quickly," said Nasir.