Gov’t Strengthens Disaster Response in Sumatra with National Police and TNI Deployment

Indonesian Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo delivers a press statement at the Integrated Command Post for the Natural Disaster Management, Halim Perdanakusuma Military Air Base, Jakarta, Friday (12/19). (Photo by: Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat)

The Government has announced it is continuing to strengthen disaster response efforts in the island of Sumatra by deploying a large number of the Indonesian Police and the Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) personnel, along with comprehensive supporting facilities.

Chief of the Indonesian National Police General Listyo Sigit Prabowo stated it during a press briefing at the Integrated Command Post for the Natural Disaster Management, Halim Perdanakusuma Military Air Base, Jakarta, Friday (12/19), as a follow-up to President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to ensure optimal disaster response.

According to Listyo, the National Police Polri has deployed more than 11 thousand personnel across three disaster-hit provinces to carry out various humanitarian tasks, ranging from search and rescue operations to assisting victims in their recovery.

“Following the President’s directive to strengthen disaster response efforts, I can report that a total of 11,625 the National Police personnel have been deployed. This includes 10,626 personnel from regional units and 999 personnel under operational control. Of these, 5,064 personnel are assigned to the Aceh Regional Police, 4,277 to the North Sumatra Regional Police, and 2,284 to the West Sumatra Regional Police,” the National Chief Police said.

Listyo also stated that the National Police will deploy additional personnel to support post-disaster management efforts, including the construction of temporary housing (huntara).

Amid the Christmas and New Year holiday operations, Listyo also mentioned that the National Police is also preparing to deploy additional personnel and engage volunteers.

“We have prepared 1,000 additional personnel on standby. In addition to the ongoing Christmas and New Year holiday operations, we are ready to deploy more personnel whenever needed. They can be assigned to disaster-hit Sumatra areas once the operation concludes. We have  also recruited 7,269 volunteers who are currently deployed across West Sumatra, Aceh, North Sumatra provinces,” Listyo said.

To support on-site operation, the National Police has also established dozens of posts for disaster response, logistics, healthcare, and temporary kitchens, while providing air and sea transportations to distribute aid across the three provinces.

“We have prepared four ships to support aid distribution. In addition, we have two planes and eight helicopters currently ion operation, which have conducted 346 flight sorties to deliver logistics and transported a total of 129.7 tons of aid,” he added.

Meanwhile, TNI Commander-in-Chief General Agus Subiyanto reported that tens of thousands of TNI personnel have been deployed to support disaster response efforts in Sumatra, adding that TNI’s supports includes logistics distribution, medical evacuation and the construction of Bailey bridges. .

“There will be more personnel for reconstruction and rehabilitation phase from units, such as TNI military engineering corps, territorial development infantry battalion, and healthcare personnel. The tasks include constructing bailey bridges, building temporary and permanent houses., removing mud and woods, and later normalizing roads and continuing logistics distribution,” he explained, adding that TNI has contributed to distribute 2,428 tons of aid through air transportation, airdrop, war ship and army transportations, as well as land transportation.

The TNI Commander-in-Chief also mentioned that a number of bailey bridges have been constructed and used by the people in disaster-hit areas, and that the construction project keeps going on in West Sumatra province, with some of which already accessible for the people.

“In North Sumatra province, three bailey bridges construction have been fully completed. In Anggoli village, Sibabangun district, the bailey bridges are already accessible. Meanwhile, in Garoga village, South Tapanuli regency and Hamparan Perak district, North Sumatra province, the constructions are on-going,” he remarked. (Bureau of Press, Media, and Information of Presidential Secretariat) (AW/EP)