“We will check how many processing units were affected there, and we have already collected data on the fish-processing units in the area,” Acting Director General for Strengthening the Competitiveness of Marine and Fishery Products Machmud said at a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday.
He said the units most likely affected are micro- and small-scale processing units, and the ministry already has records identifying which operations were impacted.
“We will implement the necessary recovery measures. We already have a task force within the ministry that covers initial disaster response, distribution operations, and recovery. This recovery task force requires all echelon I units of the ministry to support restoration efforts, especially for stakeholders in the affected areas,” Machmud said.
The Director General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Control, Pung Nugroho Saksono, said the ministry has delivered a total of 108 tons of aid to disaster-hit communities in Sumatra.
He said the figure reflects accumulated shipments sent by sea and air to multiple disaster locations.
In addition to food assistance, the ministry has opened a donation drive for proper clothing, which remains an urgent need among evacuees.
The ministry’s task force is also continuing to accept aid contributions from various parties, including the private sector, for distribution to affected residents.
The ministry has deployed three surveillance vessels to Lhokseumawe, Langsa, and Sibolga, as well as a patrol aircraft to reach areas with difficult access, such as Southeast Aceh.
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Translator: Aji Cakti
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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