Sumatra Dilanda Disaster, Government Mobilization Hercules And A400

Illustration of Hercules aircraft (Between)

JAKARTA - The government is moving quickly to respond to the Great Floods in Aceh and North Sumatra as well as landslides in West Sumatra. On the instructions of the President, four Hercules planes and one A400 took off at 00.30 WIB, Friday, November 28 in the morning carrying emergency assistance to Padang, Silangit, Banda Aceh, and Lhokseumawe.

Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya stated that the President's order had been running since the first day of the disaster, November 25. The Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture was appointed to coordinate cross-ministerial handling.

"All aid must arrive to the deepest point," said Teddy at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, Jakarta, Friday, November 28.

Today, the plane carried 150 tents, 64 rubber boats, generators, 100 communication tools, ready-to-eat food, as well as a medical team of the TNI and the Ministry of Health complete with medicines. The President also contacted regional heads in West Sumatra, Tapanuli, North Sumatra, and Aceh to ensure the most urgent needs.

In the same place, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno also emphasized that the government's focus is the full emergency response. Refugee tents, daily logistics, and evacuation equipment have been sent from the start. He mentioned several isolated points due to road breaks and landslides. "The PU team moved quickly to open access," he said.

Pratikno also revealed that extreme weather conditions were triggered by the Senyar tropical cyclone, which according to the BMKG began to weaken. The government is carrying out weather modification operations to reduce rainfall on land. Vigilance is still being increased regarding the potential of other cyclones in northern Indonesia.

"We have mobilized all efforts according to the President's order so that the affected residents are immediately handled," said Pratikno, while asking for public and media support to ensure real-time information about the Longsor floods in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra as well as distribution of aid for the Sumatra disaster.