Enviro News Asia, Aceh — The Government of Indonesia continues post-disaster recovery efforts following hydrometeorological disasters in North Sumatra and Aceh by strengthening inter-agency coordination and utilizing recovered timber to support temporary housing construction and community recovery.
The Ministry of Forestry works closely with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Ministry of Public Works and Housing to accelerate environmental cleanup and rehabilitation in affected areas. The joint operation focuses on clearing public facilities, removing driftwood, and preparing land for temporary and permanent housing to restore safety and basic living conditions for disaster-affected communities.
Forestry Ministry personnel operate in Langkahan Sub-district, North Aceh, where teams conduct large-scale cleanup of public facilities and timber debris. A total of 40 heavy equipment units from multiple agencies support these operations. As of January 18, 2026, cleanup activities have covered approximately 27.5 hectares of affected land.
In Aceh Tamiang, the Manggala Agni fire brigade team cleans residents’ houses in Dusun Tengah, Setia Village, Karang Baru Sub-district. At the same time, the law enforcement task force secures collected timber originating from Darul Mukhlisin Islamic Boarding School to ensure orderly management. “We divide field operations according to each team’s function so that cleanup and security measures run effectively and in an orderly manner,” said Subhan, Head of the Balai Besar Taman Nasional Gunung Leuser.
In Garoga, Huta Godang, and Aek Ngadol areas of North Sumatra, the Forestry Ministry deploys three grapple excavators to clear and stack timber around residential zones and along the Garoga River. The ministry also opens land for permanent housing development in Aek Pining Sub-district. On January 18, 2026, teams processed 129 timber pieces with a volume of 2.0560 cubic meters, bringing the cumulative total to 2,134 processed logs with a volume of 30.1707 cubic meters. “We manage the use of driftwood in a measured and accountable manner to support temporary housing construction and meet the needs of affected communities,” said Novita Kusuma Wardani, Head of the Balai Besar Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam Sumatera Utara.
Timber sorted in Geudumbak Village supports temporary housing construction through cooperation with Rumah Zakat. Authorities have built 25 temporary housing units to date, with 12 units under construction, eight units already occupied by residents, and five units nearing completion. In the Garoga area, authorities have utilized 1,795 timber pieces with a volume of 23.8256 cubic meters to support temporary housing in Batu Hula Village and a public kitchen in Garoga Village, with no additional timber transport recorded on January 18, 2026.
Beyond physical recovery, local economic conditions show early signs of improvement. Residents have resumed harvesting lime crops, while community kiosks have reopened and restarted daily trading activities, indicating gradual economic recovery alongside ongoing rehabilitation efforts. (*)
