Enviro News Asia, North Aceh — Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) continues post-disaster response efforts following hydrometeorological disasters affecting several areas in Sumatra, with operations now entering the fifteenth day. Current activities are concentrated in Langkahan Sub-district, North Aceh Regency, where access remains obstructed by debris from flood-borne timber.
Joint teams from the Great Leuser National Park Authority, Natural Resources Conservation Agency, Watershed Management Agency, Forest Area Stabilization Agency, and the Forestry Law Enforcement Unit have been deployed alongside other institutions. A total of 23 heavy machines have been mobilized, including excavators and bulldozers operated by Kemenhut, the Indonesian National Armed Forces, and the Ministry of Public Works.
According to Subhan, Head of the Great Leuser National Park Authority, clearing efforts in Geudumbak Village remain a priority due to limited access caused by accumulated timber debris. Salvageable wood has been collected and measured on site, resulting in 103 logs with an estimated volume of 93.11 cubic meters.
Additional equipment has been deployed to clear drainage channels and school facilities, including SMP Negeri 3 Langkahan and SD Negeri 4 Langkahan. Forestry personnel have assisted in restoring classrooms, storage areas, and sanitation facilities to support the resumption of educational activities.
Subhan added that community-based utilization of disaster timber, supported by humanitarian organization Rumah Zakat, has reached approximately 18.5 cubic meters since late December. The data remain provisional and subject to verification. Construction of three temporary housing units is currently ongoing.
In Aceh Tamiang Regency, forestry personnel continue clearing residential areas of remaining debris as part of accelerated recovery efforts. Meanwhile, in North Sumatra Province, excavators have been deployed to prepare land for permanent housing, while reports of large timber accumulations along the Batang Toru River are undergoing further assessment and handling in accordance with prevailing regulations.
The Ministry of Forestry reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cross-sector coordination to ensure effective, safe, and timely recovery efforts in disaster-affected regions. (*)
