JAKARTA - The flood disaster that hit the Aceh region, West Sumatra, and a number of points in Sumatra not only left physical damage and material loss, but also left a deep psychological impact on the victims.
Although logistical needs such as food, clothing, and temporary shelter have been channeled by various local institutions and governments, further needs in the form of emotional assistance and trauma recovery are now becoming increasingly urgent.
Not a few residents, especially children and the elderly, experience anxiety, fear, and mental stress after watching the massive flood that swept away their homes and changed their lives in a matter of hours.
Responding to this situation, the Ministry of Population and Family Development (Kemenduk bangga) moved quickly by prioritizing the mental recovery of victims.
The Minister of Education and Culture is proud, Wihaji, emphasized that assistance for disaster victims must not stop at meeting the primary needs. According to him, psychological recovery is an important part of the process of community revival after the disaster.
"I ordered the extension workers, the family accompanying teams in the Aceh region, the Sumatra region, and the West Sumatra region to go to the field. This team does not need to wait for additional instructions to start moving. So we have to wait for what can be helped? Just help," explained Wihaji at the age of the 2025 GENTING Collaboration Summit press conference in Jakarta, Wednesday, December 10, 2025.
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Wihaji explained that after basic needs began to be met, which may have been a lot of assistance from a number of parties, currently the victim is in dire need of trauma healing.
This has begun to be carried out by the Ministry of Education and Culture's field team consisting of extension workers, family assistants, psychological staff, and volunteers for the Planning Generation (Genre) program.
"They are already moving. I have received reports and videos. They collect children, but also not just children. Trauma healing is all needed, because the impact is not only felt by children, but also adults," he continued.
This assistance, he continued, includes group counseling, child-to-child play activities, motivational sessions, and emotional support for families who have lost their homes or family members.
"We invite psychologists, but we also have our own team who are used to working in the field. They accompany their families every day in regular programs, so they are trained to provide psychological support and enthusiasm," he said.
In this case, the role of trauma healing is crucial because psychological impacts that are not handled properly can cause long-term problems. He ensured that the Ministry of Education and Culture would continue to accompany victims until the situation stabilized again.
"If there are many institutions that have helped logistics. But trauma recovery requires special attention. If you are not careful, this could be a big problem in the future," he said.
At the end of his delivery, Wihaji reiterated his ministry's commitment to ensure that disaster-affected communities not only survived, but were also able to recover completely both physically and mentally.
"This is not only the duty of the state, but the duty of humanity. Hopefully the victims will recover soon, and we will continue to work together," he concluded.
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