Air Mobility Deployed to Accelerate Disaster Aid Delivery in Sumatra

In response to the devastating flooding and landslides that have severely impacted Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, BPI Danantara, in collaboration with BP BUMN, has swiftly mobilized resources to provide urgent assistance to the affected regions.

The heavy rainfall over the past week has resulted in widespread flooding, particularly in areas like Lhokseumawe and North Aceh, where waist-high waters have submerged critical roads, severed bridges, and forced thousands of residents into evacuation centers. Local authorities have declared a state of emergency, and the need for essential aid is rapidly escalating.

Coordinated Cross-SOE Relief Effort

To ensure the rapid and effective distribution of aid, BPI Danantara and BP SOE formed a centralized coordination center to streamline relief operations. This task force is working to expedite the consolidation of aid from state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and determine the most efficient transportation routes, as many areas are inaccessible by land.

Rosan Roeslani, CEO of Danantara Indonesia, emphasized the critical importance of speed in disaster response.
 “When communities are in need, the SOE Family moves as one. Speed is the key,” he said.

Air Transport for Immediate Aid Delivery

With land access cut off, air transport became the primary method for delivering aid. Garuda–Citilink aircraft successfully transported 9.4 tons of emergency supplies to Kualanamu, which were then rerouted to Lhokseumawe. Upon arrival in Aceh, the aid was transferred to BPBD and military units for rapid distribution to evacuation points and remote areas.

Priority Areas of Assistance: Basic Needs, Public Services, and Energy Support

1. Essential Supplies: Immediate priorities include food, water, baby supplies, blankets, medications, vaccines, sanitation materials, clothing, and other everyday essentials for those who have lost access to basic services.
2. Public Services Restoration: Efforts to restore essential infrastructure have been a top priority. Telkom has deployed teams to restore disrupted telecommunications services by reactivating damaged towers, while PLN is delivering generators and power infrastructure via Hercules aircraft and helicopters.
3. Energy and Mobility Support: Pertamina has reinforced the supply of fuel and LPG, including emergency fuel for heavy machinery and aviation fuel for continued humanitarian flights.

Ongoing Relief Operations and Long-Term Recovery

Following this initial phase of aid delivery, additional shipments are being planned for all three affected provinces, using a combination of air and sea transport, tailored to weather conditions and field accessibility.

Rosan Roeslani reiterated the ongoing commitment to recovery efforts:
 “This is just the beginning. We will continue to work with BP BUMN and all SOEs to ensure that aid reaches those in need and that communities in Aceh and Sumatra are able to recover as quickly as possible,” he said.

Through this cross-SOE collaboration and the activation of air mobility from the outset, aid is expected to reach previously isolated areas, speeding up recovery efforts for communities in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.