Jakarta — Significant progress continues in the recovery efforts for flood and landslide-affected regions of Aceh. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has confirmed that the distribution of vital fuel supplies has successfully reached areas previously isolated due to severed land access.
Abdul Muhari, Head of BNPB’s Data, Information, and Disaster Communication Center, reported that PT Pertamina initiated fuel delivery via pioneer aircraft to Bener Meriah and Aceh Tengah. These two critical districts had faced severe energy supply limitations for several days due to disruptions on main transportation routes.
During a press conference on Friday (5/12), as quoted by the Government Communication Agency, Abdul Muhari stated, “Today in Aceh, PT Pertamina successfully delivered an initial phase of 1,000 liters of biosolar and 1,000 liters of pertalite via pioneer aircraft to Bener Meriah and Aceh Tengah. This crucial delivery will undoubtedly bolster mobility for both the joint emergency response teams on the ground and the affected communities in Bener Meriah and Aceh Tengah.”
Road Access Still Limited, Fuel Airdropped
The decision to dispatch fuel by air was necessitated by the persistent isolation of several key road sections across Aceh. For instance, the Bireuen–Takengon route remains completely impassable in Bener Meriah, prompting joint teams to expedite the installation of a Bailey Bridge at Teupin Mane as a temporary bypass.
Moreover, access between Aceh Utara and Bener Meriah is currently only feasible up to kilometer 60, with approximately 22 kilometers of road still requiring extensive clearance of landslide debris. These challenging conditions mean that the vital supply of logistics and energy continues to heavily rely on aerial transport.
Abdul Muhari underscored that the availability of fuel in these two districts is paramount to accelerating various emergency response operations. This includes enhancing the mobility of combined Search and Rescue (SAR) teams, facilitating the movement of heavy equipment engaged in clearing flood and landslide materials, streamlining logistics distribution to various displacement camps, and supporting residents’ short-distance ground transportation needs.
“This will significantly aid the mobility of joint teams in the field as well as the community,” Muhari reiterated, highlighting the broader positive ripple effect of the fuel delivery.
BNPB Intensifies Logistics Distribution to Aceh
Beyond fuel deliveries, BNPB has also documented a notable increase in air sorties dedicated to humanitarian logistics across numerous points in Aceh. Daily operations see helicopters from BNPB, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), and the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) reaching remote, affected villages such as Bergang, Lut Jaya, Musara Alur, and Gunci in Aceh Utara.
These joint teams are relentlessly targeting hard-to-access areas, ensuring that essential aid—including food provisions, medicines, blankets, milk, and crucial baby supplies—is distributed equitably to those in need.
While the region experienced moderate rainfall for two hours during the afternoon, BNPB confirmed that these weather conditions did not impede the overall logistics distribution efforts. Furthermore, the ongoing Weather Modification Operations (WMO), which commenced on November 28, will continue. These operations aim to maintain favorable weather, crucial for facilitating the opening of land access, installing emergency bridges, conducting search and rescue missions, and clearing flood and landslide debris.
With the successful arrival of fuel in two pivotal districts, coupled with sustained efforts in opening road access and constructing emergency bridges, BNPB confidently affirms that the situation on the ground is steadily moving towards significant improvement.
Summary
The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has confirmed significant progress in recovery efforts for flood and landslide-affected regions of Aceh, successfully distributing vital fuel supplies to previously isolated areas. PT Pertamina delivered an initial 2,000 liters of fuel (1,000 liters biosolar and 1,000 liters pertalite) via pioneer aircraft to Bener Meriah and Aceh Tengah. This aerial delivery was necessitated by persistent road closures and extensive landslide debris, making land access severely limited for these critical districts.
The arrival of fuel is paramount for accelerating various emergency response operations, including enhancing the mobility of joint SAR teams, heavy equipment for clearing debris, and streamlining logistics distribution to affected communities. Alongside fuel deliveries, BNPB, TNI, and Basarnas helicopters have intensified humanitarian logistics distribution of essential aid to remote villages. These comprehensive efforts, coupled with ongoing weather modification operations, are steadily improving the overall situation on the ground in Aceh.
