Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry continues post-disaster operations to clear accumulated wood debris and residual waste in Aceh Tamiang, North Aceh, and several affected locations in North Sumatra, as part of efforts to accelerate environmental recovery and restore public access.
The cleanup operations are being carried out in coordination with the Indonesian National Armed Forces, the Indonesian National Police, local governments, and partner organizations.
At Darul Mukhlisin Islamic Boarding School in Aceh Tamiang, joint teams supported by 34 heavy equipment units remain actively engaged in debris removal. As of Monday (December 29), cleanup progress has reached approximately 94 percent, covering the main school area as well as supporting facilities, including classrooms, teachers’ offices, mosque ablution areas, and nearby residential houses.
Gunung Leuser National Park Authority Head Subhan stated that the operation prioritizes not only debris removal but also the rapid restoration of essential social functions.
“The cleanup is directed at ensuring that educational and religious activities can resume as soon as possible. Night shifts continue to be carried out to accelerate completion,” Subhan said.
In Langkahan Sub-district, North Aceh, road access and public facilities cleanup continues with the support of six excavators. Access to Geudumbak Village has been further opened, while cleanup of educational facilities has been completed at SMPN 3 Langkahan and nine classrooms at SD Negeri 7 Langkahan.
Meanwhile, in North Sumatra Province, cleanup activities are underway in Aek Ngadol, Garoga, and Huta Godang villages, supported by heavy equipment and dump trucks provided by the Ministry of Forestry, the military, the National Disaster Management Agency, and private-sector partners. Operations focus on clearing residential areas, public facilities, mud deposits, and sorting wood debris along the Garoga River.
North Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Agency Head Novita Kusuma Wardani emphasized that operations in the province are conducted under a unified command structure led by the regional disaster task force.
“We fully support the recovery efforts led by local governments and the military, ensuring that cleanup activities are orderly, safe, and directly beneficial to affected communities,” Novita said.
The Ministry of Forestry confirmed that cleanup operations will continue, subject to field conditions and weather, with cross-sector coordination remaining the key factor in accelerating post-disaster recovery. (*)
