BETANJAK.COM, ACEH TAMIANG — The Emergency Response Group (ERG) of PT TIMAH Tbk has expanded its disaster relief efforts in Sumatra. On Tuesday (December 9, 2025), the ERG team provided assistance to the community in Alur Dua Hamlet, Rantau Pakam Village, Bendahara District, Aceh Tamiang Regency.
The presence of the ERG PT TIMAH Tbk team, in collaboration with Wanadri and PT Antam, was warmly welcomed by disaster victims and brought a sense of relief to residents who have been coping with flooding since last week.
In addition to providing medical services and food supplies, the ERG PT TIMAH Tbk team also set up emergency electricity and Starlink internet access to help residents stay connected with their families and support disaster management efforts.
Zul An, a resident of Alur Dua Hamlet, shared that this flood submerged nearly all homes in the area.
“When the flood came, most houses were completely submerged. Around 335 families were affected. We saved ourselves by building high wooden platforms, and the water level reached about one and a half meters,” he said.
Zul added that clean water for consumption is currently the residents’ most urgent need. Moving around during the flood has also become difficult, making medical services essential.
“Thank God, with the presence of ERG PT TIMAH, we are greatly helped. We really need medical treatment. With electricity and free WiFi, we can contact our families. We’re very grateful,” he said.
Anum, another resident, also expressed her gratitude for the ERG PT TIMAH Tbk team’s arrival, as not much aid had reached them due to their remote location.
“Thank God, today the team from PT TIMAH came. Our phones have been dead for 15 days. Thanks to the free internet from PT TIMAH Tbk, we can finally inform our families outside that we are safe. This is very helpful and we are very grateful. We hope other aid teams can also reach our village,” she said.
Anum emphasized that staple food is currently the community’s most urgent need. Aid has been minimal due to difficult access to their area.
For her, the Starlink internet provided by the ERG PT TIMAH Tbk team has been extremely helpful, especially for residents who needed to inform relatives elsewhere about their condition.
“The ERG team really lifts our spirits. Many of us are still traumatized by the flooding. We had to save ourselves in many different ways—some evacuated, and I personally had to walk while carrying my child in a basin. The trauma is still very real,” she said.
Beyond Aceh Tamiang Regency, the ERG PT TIMAH Tbk team, together with the ESDM Disaster Response Post, also provided medical services to residents in Cempaka Hamlet, Teluk Bakung Village, Tanjung Pura District, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra Province.
In Langkat, the ERG team organized trauma healing sessions for children in evacuation shelters. Various games, educational activities, and support sessions were provided to create a cheerful atmosphere.
These efforts aimed to reduce lingering fear among children after the flooding and help restore their mental well-being while staying at the shelter.
In the health sector, the ERG team offered basic medical check-ups and treatment for minor illnesses. They also distributed vitamins and provided education on preventing diseases commonly emerging after floods, such as respiratory infections and skin issues. Medical services were available for all age groups, from toddlers to the elderly.
These post-disaster recovery efforts demonstrate that PT TIMAH Tbk, through its ERG team, continues to be present and actively supports communities affected by disasters. (*)
