The assistance from the President of Indonesia includes heavy equipment, namely nine skid steer loaders, aimed at speeding up mud clearance in residential areas.
“The nine skid steer loaders are not large units, but mini-class equipment designed to enter narrow alleys. Larger equipment could potentially damage houses,” Tito said in a statement in Jakarta on Friday.
The equipment is designed to access narrow lanes without damaging residents’ buildings, Tito, who also serves as head of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sumatra, said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has strengthened field support by providing 5,000 pairs of rubber boots, 3,000 wheelbarrows, 1,000 shovels, and 1,000 hoes.
The aid was handed over at the Aceh Tamiang District Head’s Office complex in Aceh. The distribution forms part of an integrated effort by the central and regional governments to restore government functions, public services, and the community’s socio-economic activities.
During his visit to Aceh Tamiang, accompanied by District Head Armia Pahmi, Tito said the district was among the areas most severely affected by the disaster, as flooding and mud inundated the administrative center and various public facilities.
“Aceh Tamiang is one of the areas that was severely affected, as its capital was hit by flooding and large amounts of mud. Government offices, public facilities, hospitals, educational institutions, markets, and residential areas were all impacted,” he said.
Tito explained that since the first day after the disaster, the central government, together with provincial and district administrations and supported by various ministries and agencies, has worked collectively.
As a result, conditions in Aceh Tamiang have shown significant improvement compared with the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
“Electricity supply has been restored, internet access is functioning, fuel supplies are available, and all three gas stations in the town are operating. Internet connectivity is fully restored. Drinking water remains a challenge, but the economy, which was almost completely paralyzed at the outset, has begun to recover, with shops and stalls reopening,” he said.
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He added that recovery efforts need to be further accelerated through the deployment of additional heavy equipment to speed up mud removal, as well as increased personnel on the ground.
Support from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police (Polri) has been strengthened, along with the deployment of personnel from state-run academies.
“I have also instructed cadets currently participating in the Integrated Cadet Training program, including cadets from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Police academies, as well as cadets from the Defense University and the State Cyber and Cryptography Polytechnic. A total of 1,788 personnel have been deployed as part of our efforts to restore Aceh Tamiang,” Tito said.
On the budgetary side, Tito said the central government has allocated financial assistance, including daily allowances of 15,000 rupiah per person from the Ministry of Social Affairs, household furnishing assistance of 3 million rupiah, and economic stimulus funds of 5 million rupiah.
In addition, the 2026 Regional Transfer Fund allocation has been restored to its 2025 level, totaling more than 10 trillion rupiah for three affected provinces, including Aceh.
“Once again, we hope that the assistance from the president will help ease the burden and accelerate recovery in Aceh Tamiang. This is the only area where government operations have not yet fully returned to normal; in other respects, conditions are largely back to normal,” he said.
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Translator: Fianda, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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