Air Mobility Deployed to Accelerate Disaster Aid Delivery in Sumatra

Floods and landslides occurring in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra over the past week have extensively disrupted community activities. Water levels reaching the waist of an adult have blocked main roads at several points, particularly in Lhokseumawe and North Aceh, where bridges have been severed, and thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate to schools, houses of worship, and government buildings. Local governments have declared a state of emergency, while the need for daily aid continues to rise.

In response to this emergency, BPI Danantara Indonesia, together with BP BUMN (Badan Pengaturan Badan Usaha Milik Negara), immediately established a cross-BUMN coordination center. This team is tasked with accelerating aid consolidation from various BUMN and determining the most feasible modes of transportation, especially since land routes cannot reach several affected areas.

CEO of Danantara Indonesia, Rosan Roeslani, emphasized that accelerating distribution is the top priority. "When the community is in need, the BUMN Extended Family moves as one. Speed is the deciding factor," he stated.
 

Aid Delivery via Air

With land access cut off, the air route was chosen as the primary channel to flow aid. The Garuda-Citilink fleet is being utilized to transport 9.4 tons of logistics to Kualanamu, which will then be forwarded to Lhokseumawe. Upon arrival in Aceh, aid is handled by the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), who immediately distribute it to evacuation posts and hard-to-reach locations.

Focus of Aid: Basic Needs & Service Recovery
 

1. Basic Necessities Logistics: Instant food, staple food items, baby supplies, blankets, medicines, vaccines, sanitation needs, clothing, and other daily necessities are prioritized for residents who have lost access to basic services.
2. Vital Public Services: The restoration of telecommunication networks and electricity is receiving significant attention. Telkom has deployed teams to reactivate affected STOs (Sentral Telepon Otomatis) and BTS (Base Transceiver Stations), while PLN is sending generators and network materials using Hercules aircraft and helicopters.
3. Energy & Mobility: Pertamina is strengthening fuel (BBM) and LPG supply with additional fleets, including emergency fuel support for heavy machinery and AT-1 aviation turbine fuel for humanitarian mission flights.
    

Following this initial stage, BUMN is preparing follow-up shipments for the three affected provinces using a combination of air and sea routes, adjusting routes and schedules to weather conditions and field access. Rosan affirmed the continuity of these efforts. "This is just the initial stage. We will continue to work with BP BUMN and all SOEs so that aid is delivered and communities in Aceh and elsewhere in Sumatra can recover quickly," he expressed.

With cross-BUMN collaboration and the opening of air mobilization from day one, aid can reach previously isolated areas and accelerate recovery for communities in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.