Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry, Kementerian Kehutanan, in coordination with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the National Police (Polri), local governments, partners, and volunteers, continues large-scale clearance of disaster-related wood debris and residual materials in Aceh and North Sumatra as part of post-disaster recovery efforts.
In Aceh Tamiang Regency, joint teams involving 80 personnel from Forestry Ministry technical units, 80 TNI personnel, and 30 police officers carried out intensive debris removal operations. At Darul Mukhlisin Islamic Boarding School, clearance activities supported by 37 units of heavy equipment reached approximately 90 percent completion. Wood and mud debris were transported to final disposal sites using dump trucks, while timber cutting was conducted at designated timber stockpile areas. Operations continued into the evening with additional lighting support.
Head of the Gunung Leuser National Park Authority, Subhan, stated that clearance efforts extended beyond major debris piles to include public facilities and nearby residential areas. Joint teams completed the cleaning of 12 classrooms, two teachers’ offices, and a mosque ablution area, while also assisting residents in surrounding neighborhoods.
In Langkahan Sub-district, North Aceh Regency, debris removal and road access restoration continued with the deployment of six excavators. Road access in Geudumbak Village expanded by 200 meters, bringing the total passable route to 4.85 kilometers. Cleanup operations were also conducted at SMPN 3 Langkahan and SD Negeri 7 Langkahan.
Meanwhile, in North Sumatra Province, debris clearance took place in Aek Ngadol Village, Garoga Village, and Huta Godang Village. Activities focused on removing timber debris, cleaning residential areas, and transporting mud deposits. Operations were carried out jointly with local government task forces and the TNI, supported by 17 units of heavy equipment and 14 dump trucks from the Ministry of Forestry, the military, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), state-owned enterprises, and private-sector partners.
Head of the North Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency, Novita Kusuma Wardani, emphasized that cross-sector collaboration remains essential to accelerating recovery. She stated that all activities are conducted under coordinated regional task force command to restore environmental conditions and community activities as quickly as possible.
Debris clearance operations will continue in line with field conditions and weather developments, with follow-up work scheduled to focus on residential areas, timber cutting along riverbanks, and strengthening access routes for heavy equipment to disposal sites. (*)
