MEDAN – The floods that have hit several regions in Sumatra have left deep sorrow for thousands of residents. Floodwaters that submerged residential areas have forced many families to evacuate and leave behind their homes and belongings. Amid this situation, Danantara Indonesia, together with the Badan Pengelola Badan Usaha Milik Negara (BP BUMN), deployed 1,066 volunteers from various state-owned enterprises and 109 humanitarian aid trucks to support emergency response and disaster recovery efforts in affected areas.
This initiative is part of the BUMN Peduli program, which serves as a platform for coordination and synergy among SOEs in responding to emergency situations in an integrated manner. Through this program, PT Bank Tabungan Negara (Persero) Tbk (BTN) also deployed six aid trucks from Kualanamu, Medan, to assist flood victims in Sumatra. The assistance is focused on meeting the most urgent needs of affected residents, ranging from food, clean water, baby supplies, to emergency services.
The initial phase of aid distribution is prioritized based on field needs assessments and coordination with local governments and relevant agencies. Meanwhile, monitoring and preparedness efforts in other affected regions continue to be carried out to anticipate further developments.
As part of the post-disaster recovery phase, Danantara Indonesia and BP BUMN are also preparing follow-up support in the form of building around 15,000 temporary housing units (huntara) in several affected locations. The construction of these temporary shelters will be carried out in coordination with local governments and related agencies, prioritizing safety, livability, and the needs of affected communities.
Chief Operating Officer of Danantara Indonesia and Head of BP BUMN, Dony Oskaria, expressed appreciation for the volunteers and SOE personnel who were directly involved in disaster response efforts, including companies that continue to ensure essential services remain operational in affected areas.
“I am proud to see more than a thousand SOE employees willing to go directly to the field as volunteers to help affected communities. At the same time, I appreciate the hard work of SOE colleagues who continue to ensure that basic services remain available for people in affected areas,” said Dony while leading the BUMN Peduli Volunteer Assembly at Kualanamu Airport, Friday (December 19).
On the same occasion, BTN Director of Commercial Banking, Hermita, stated that the total value of disaster assistance distributed by BTN for the Sumatra region has reached approximately Rp10 billion. The aid includes not only logistics but also supporting facilities for disaster management.
“The assistance we provided includes basic food packages, ready-to-eat meals, bedding supplies, milk and baby equipment, medicines, water filters, clean water, as well as support equipment such as excavators, public kitchens, generators, and other forms of assistance,” explained Hermita.
BTN dispatched six aid trucks from Medan, consisting of two trucks carrying ready-to-eat meals with a total load of around 16 tons, two trucks carrying baby supplies such as soap, shampoo, diapers, baby porridge, and milk with a total of 8 tons, and two other trucks transporting clean water to meet the basic needs of evacuees.
“Two additional trucks are carrying clean water to meet the basic needs of evacuees,” Hermita added.
In addition to sending logistics, BTN has also established public kitchens at four flood-affected locations, namely Pidie Jaya Regency, Aceh Tamiang Regency, Langsa City, and Bireuen Regency. In Pidie Jaya specifically, BTN has set up 11 tents that function as evacuation shelters, public kitchens, and emergency medical facilities.
Hermita emphasized that the company is currently focusing more attention on the Aceh region after observing conditions on the ground that require fast and coordinated handling.
“We continue to monitor developments in affected areas. BTN has also carried out similar efforts in several other locations in North Sumatra and West Sumatra,” said Hermita.
Through these efforts, BTN hopes that the assistance provided can help ease the burden of flood victims while also supporting the recovery of community life. Amid disaster conditions, the presence of well-targeted aid is expected to become a source of hope for residents to rebuild and resume their daily activities.
