Banda Aceh - The Board of Professors of Syiah Kuala University (USK) delivered an open letter to President Prabowo Subianto regarding the determination of the national disaster emergency status for the Aceh disaster and two other provinces in Sumatra.
"This open letter regarding the acceleration of access and coordination of international humanitarian assistance logistics is part of moral and humanitarian contributions," said the Chairman of the Board of Professors of Syiah Kuala University, Prof. Izarul Machdar in Banda Aceh, Monday, December 15, reported by ANTARA.
He explained that based on the latest report from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and national media institutions, the number of fatalities has reached around 1,006 people, spread across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, with hundreds more still missing or injured.
Then the number of refugees and affected residents reached hundreds of thousands of people and damaged or destroyed tens of thousands of houses, public facilities, and other basic infrastructure.
Furthermore, the telecommunications network experienced serious disruption with mobile phone services not functioning optimally and very limited internet access, so that rescue coordination and emergency communications were hampered and widespread and prolonged power outages.
Therefore, his party urges and proposes 11 strategic recommendations, including establishing a comprehensive national disaster emergency status, accelerating the opening of major transportation access routes (airports, ports, highways) for the entry of international humanitarian assistance.
Next, establish a Humanitarian Logistics Coordination Center in Aceh involving BNPB, relevant ministries, local governments, TNI/Polri, and representatives of international institutions to synchronize data on needs and distribution of assistance;
Then simplify the permit and clearance procedures for international humanitarian organizations (e.g. WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, IFRC, IOM) including customs efficiency and quarantine of aid goods.
"It is also necessary to activate the common logistics tracking system that is integrated between the government and humanitarian organizations, so that the flow of assistance can be monitored, responded to, and allocated in real time according to the needs at various affected points," he said.
Then optimize the formation of Aid Staging Areas or logistics consolidation points in strategic locations (such as Banda Aceh, Lhokseumawe, Bener Meriah) to store, verify, and distribute aid both from within and outside the country, including prioritizing the restoration of communication and internet networks to support emergency response coordination.
They also asked for the acceleration of the recovery of electricity and telecommunications infrastructure as a top priority, given the dependence on emergency response operations, coordination communication and the sustainability of the local economy on energy availability and connectivity.
He also added that it was necessary to accelerate the recovery of access to the interrupted land routes, with priority on the routes connecting the main post with remote areas and ensuring the availability of adequate land, sea, and air transportation (including helicopters and heavy vehicles) to reach areas that are completely isolated due to infrastructure damage.
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