17.871 Livestock in East Aceh Died Due to Flood

JAKARTA - The East Aceh Regency Government (Pemkab) through the Plantation and Livestock Service recorded 17,871 dead livestock due to flooding in the regency.

Head of the East Aceh Regency Plantation and Livestock Service, Murdhani, said the data was the result of a temporary recapitulation of field reports collected by officers together with the affected gampong and sub-district apparatus.

"Floods with water levels of 10 to three centimeters and lasted long enough to cause many of the residents' livestock to be unable to be rescued, especially livestock that were kept in low cages and were near the river," said Murdhani in East Aceh, Monday, quoted by Antara.

Based on data details, livestock deaths include various types of animals. Chicken livestock is the most affected with a total of 16,026 dead, 919 ducks, 436 cows, 424 goats, and 66 sheep.

The spread of livestock deaths occurred in almost all affected flood sub-districts, namely in Pereulak Timur, Sungai Raya, Pereulak, Julok, Peudawa, Idi Rayeuk.

"As well as, Nurussalam, Indra Makmur, Ranto Pereulak, Bireum Bayeun, West Pereulak, Simpang Jernih, Madat, Darul Aman and Ranto Seulamat," said Murdhani.

He explained that most of the livestock died due to being submerged in the flood, being swept away by the current, exhaustion, and lack of feed during the flood. In addition, the damaged condition of the cage and the difficulty of evacuation access also exacerbated the situation.

"This loss is very felt by farmers, because livestock is the main source of income for rural people. We are still continuing to conduct further data collection to ensure that no data is missed," he said.

The death of livestock due to flooding has been reported to the provincial and central governments as the basis for proposing assistance, in the form of replacement livestock assistance, feed, and post-flood recovery support.

Murdhani appealed to farmers to increase vigilance, especially for those who live in flood-prone areas, by preparing safer and easier to evacuate locations if similar disasters occur again.

"In the future, we will also strengthen disaster mitigation in the livestock sector so that losses due to floods do not continue to recur which can be detrimental to farmers," said Murdhani.