East Aceh Races to Build Post-Disaster Housing Units

RRI.CO.ID, East Aceh - Recovery efforts in the remote village of Sahraja, Pantai Bidari Subdistrict, East Aceh, Aceh Province are now entering an important phase. Authorities are pushing to complete approximately 1,500 temporary housing units before the Eid al-Fitr holiday in March.

The village was left devastated and isolated following the catastrophic flash floods of November 2025. Military officials confirmed that after months of intensive mud clearance by the Indonesian Military, the primary access roads have finally been reopened, allowing construction materials to reach the disaster-stricken area.

“We have now moved into the recovery phase, which includes the construction of these temporary shelters,” remarked Captain Muhammad Irwan, Commander of the 20/Pante Bidari Military Subdistrict Command, during a community gathering in Sahraja on Sunday, February 22, 2026.

Despite the logistical challenges posed by the village's remote geography, Irwan expressed optimism regarding the project's timeline. “There have been no significant obstacles so far. Construction has started.”

As reported by Antara, the reconstruction process in Sahraja has faced unique difficulties compared to neighboring regions. This is largely due to the village's extreme isolation and high vulnerability to weather conditions.

Local resident Rudi Jasa noted that the community is grateful for the support from the government and volunteers. However, he explained that the pace of development was hampered by the long distance from urban centers and the difficulty of transporting materials during rainy periods.

As part of a long-term safety strategy, residents previously living in the Sarah Gala hamlet will be permanently moved to higher ground. “Thank God, the shelters are being built. It was slower because it is far from the city. If it rains, bringing materials to the site is a challenge, which is why we are the last to start,” explained Rudi. ***