Banda Aceh | detikperistiwa.co.id
The Governor of Aceh, Muzakir Manaf (Mualem), has reaffirmed that Aceh is fully open to receiving humanitarian assistance from foreign nations and international organisations to accelerate recovery efforts following the major disaster that has struck several regions. at 8 Desember 2025.
His statement comes amid reports that the central government had previously expressed a rejection of foreign aid. The former Commander of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) said that refusing international support at a time when it is urgently needed would be unreasonable.
“They are helping us. Why should we make it difficult? That would be foolish,” Mualem asserted.
He emphasised that international support is essential, as the scale of destruction caused by the disaster is far too severe to be handled independently. According to him, there is no prohibition for Aceh to accept assistance from friendly countries.
“I believe there is no restriction. It is perfectly acceptable and not a problem,” he stated.
As an example, he noted that Aceh had recently received medical supplies from Malaysia. All the aid has been distributed to disaster-affected communities. Due to continued shortages, an additional shipment is expected to arrive soon.
“We have already distributed the supplies, but they were not enough. This Wednesday, a further three tonnes of medical aid will be delivered, along with medical personnel. It is entirely permissible, and there is no restriction,” he explained.
Mualem also revealed that he has brought in a specialist team from China to assist in locating victims of the flash floods who are believed to still be buried under mud. The five-member team is equipped with specialised detection devices to help identify the remains of those still missing.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Relawan Peduli Rakyat Lintas Batas (Volunteers Caring for the People Without Borders), Arizal Mahdi, welcomed the Governor’s stance in opening Aceh to international assistance. He stressed that global cooperation is crucial to speeding up rescue efforts and the recovery of communities in the affected areas. According to Arizal, his organisation stands ready to serve as a bridge in coordinating and distributing humanitarian aid.
By Arizal/Red
