President Prabowo Orders Immediate Delivery of Aid, Four Planes Deployed

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - President Prabowo Subianto has instructed his staff to promptly assist residents affected by hydrometeorological disasters in three provinces in Northern Sumatra. Four aircraft were deployed on Friday morning (28/11/2025) to transport rescue teams and aid.

As reported, floods have affected parts of West Sumatra since Tuesday (25/11/2025). The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) recorded that the flood-affected areas in Aceh Province include the City of Sabang, Bireun Regency, West Aceh, Gayo Lues, Aceh Singkil, East Aceh, North Aceh, and the City of Lhokseumawe, as well as the City of Subulussalam.

In North Sumatra, floods have struck areas in the districts/cities located on the west coast, such as Langkat Regency, Pakpak Barat, Humbang Hasundutan, North Tapanuli, Central Tapanuli, South Tapanuli, South Nias Regency, Mandailing Natal, Sibolga City, and Padang Sidempuan City. Meanwhile, in West Sumatra, floods have occurred in Padang City, Padang Pariaman Regency, and South Pesisir Regency.

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Pratikno, accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, sent off the team carrying this aid at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta on Friday at 7:30 AM. The aircraft used were three TNI AU Hercules and one A400 aircraft that had just arrived in the country earlier this month.

Assistance is being delivered to the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. The four aircraft will land at the nearest airports to the affected locations.

"Therefore, we will go to Padang, West Sumatra, then to the nearest airport in Tapanuli, specifically to Silangit Airport in North Sumatra, and then to an airport in Banda Aceh and Lhokseumawe in North Aceh, as these are the nearest airports to the affected locations," said Teddy.

He added that this step is not the first shipment. Since the beginning of the disaster, President Prabowo has given clear instructions for all assistance to be sent without interruption.

"Since the first day on November 25, the President has directly instructed the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture to coordinate directly regarding disaster management," he said.

In recent days, the delivery of aid has continued through both military aircraft and civilian airlines. All necessities being sent are adjusted to the actual conditions on the ground, based on direct communication between the central government and regional heads.

To ensure the accuracy of needs, the President has communicated directly with local governments. "Yesterday, the President contacted directly, calling the regional heads in West Sumatra, then Mr. Masinton, and also Gus Irawan - the Regent of Central Tapanuli and South Tapanuli - has been contacted, including the Governor of North Sumatra and the Province of Aceh," he added.

Data from the regional heads serves as the basis for the government in determining the types of assistance to be sent this morning. The aid being flown consists of emergency equipment and essential needs for evacuation and rapid recovery.

"Today, we are dispatching supplies according to needs, including approximately 150 tents, as well as rubber boats which are very important for evacuation, totaling around 64. Additionally, we are sending generators, electrical assistance, and importantly, around 100 communication devices to ensure that communication signals can be reestablished. We are also sending ready-to-eat food supplies, medical teams from the military, and teams from the Ministry of Health," Teddy added.

President Prabowo, Teddy continued, emphasized that all assistance must reach the deepest points of the affected areas. "What is important is that all aid should be dispatched immediately to the locations, down to the most remote areas, with detailed information about those locations," he said, conveying the President's instructions.

Pratikno added that since the first day of the disaster, emergency response assistance such as refugee tents, food and daily necessities had been sent.

"Yesterday, we also held a coordination meeting with the relevant ministries and agencies, as well as three governors, and then the regents/mayors online to update the latest urgent needs. Therefore, what is being sent today - at the instruction of the President - are very urgent necessities. For example, as mentioned by Mr. Seskab: communication equipment, rubber boats, and electric generators," said Pratikno.

The important thing is that all aid is immediately flown to the location, including the deepest areas, with detailed information about the location right down to the deepest areas.

In addition, a team from the Ministry of Public Works has also been mobilized. This team will address several routes that have been severed due to landslides and other issues.

The tropical cyclone Senyar, which has caused heavy rain and disasters, is indeed very severe, according to Pratikno. However, according to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the intensity of cyclone Senyar has begun to decrease.

"Therefore, we are also conducting weather modification operations. The weather modification aircraft can now be flown to reduce rainfall on land, so that later we can direct the rainfall to the ocean," added Pratikno.

On the other hand, there is still Cyclone Koko that needs to be anticipated. However, this cyclone is located further north and it is hoped that it will not enter the land area of Indonesia.