While inspecting the construction of a Bailey bridge in Teupin Mane, Bireuen, Aceh, on Sunday, the president told Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf and Bireuen District Head Mukhlis Takabeya to help disaster-affected residents regain their strength.
“The national leadership is just one year old. The president, governors, and district heads are all in their first year. However, we are voted into office to overcome this challenge,” the president told the local leaders.
During his visit to disaster-affected areas in Aceh, Prabowo inspected the construction of the 30-meter Bailey bridge, intended as a temporary measure to reconnect Bireuen and Takengon districts in central Aceh after the collapse of the original bridge.
He closely observed the workers operating excavators and loaders nonstop to build the bridge's foundation on both sides of the riverbank.
"We expect the bridge to be completed in a week, and from here, we can restore three more bridges connecting Bener Meriah and Takengon," Prabowo said.
The president reiterated the government's commitment to exert all their efforts to ensure logistics access and restore public mobility after the devastating floods and landslides.
On the same occasion, he also received detailed reports about infrastructure damage in the region, such as dams or rice fields. He also assured the people that the government will repair them.
"It has been reported that many dams collapsed (due to the floods), and the Public Works Ministry will repair them. We will also rehabilitate damaged rice fields," he stated.
"Farmers, do not fret. If your rice fields are damaged, the government will repair them," Prabowo remarked.
According to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), as of December 7, the disasters had killed 940 people, left 276 missing, and affected over 3 million residents.
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Translator: Mentari DG/Genta TW, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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