Jakarta. State-run utility firm PLN has distributed humanitarian aid to the people of Aceh who had been affected by catastrophic floods and landslides over the past week.

The assistance included staple food packages and electrical equipment.

According to a press release, PLN distributed 6 tons of rice, 2 tons of sugar, 1,000 boxes of instant noodles, 2,000 cans of sardines, 2,000 liters of cooking oil, 2,000 cans of corned beef, 2,000 packages of biscuits, 3,000 bottles of mineral water, as well as 14,000 emergency lights.

The Aceh Provincial Government had also handed over the aid to the local recovery team at Iskandar Muda Airport over the weekend.

"We really need this basic food aid at the Blang Awe Village Post in Meureudu District. Thank you for PLN's generosity in helping," Dedy Suriadi, one of the locals, said.

PLN also donated a number of electric generators to support community activities; some of them went to the Al-Ghafur Mosque in Aceh Besar. PLN Director for Distribution Arsyadany Ghana Akmalaputri, PLN Director for Technology, Engineering, and Sustainability, Evy Haryadi, PLN Director of Transmission and System Planning Edwin Nugraha Putra, and the Chairman of the Baitul Maal Pusat Foundation, Sulistyo Biantoro, handed over the generators.

Al Ghafur Mosque's welfare agency chief, Tengku Muhammad Rija,l said that the assistance had helped the victims to be able to resume their worship activities.

"This generator assistance means a lot to us. With the generator, worship activities can continue even though the electricity supply has not been fully restored. We are grateful for PLN's attention and support to the people of Gani Village," he said.

Arsyadany said that PLN did not only come to Aceh to speed up the power network restoration, but also to provide humanitarian assistance.

"We understand the severe impact of the flood on the community. PLN is committed to being present not only through repairing electricity infrastructure, but also through direct assistance, which we hope will support accelerated post-flood recovery and ease the burden on residents," Arsyadany said.

PLN has also partnered with the Iskandar Muda Regional Military Command to expand its assistance reach. The company has also helped establish four public kitchens in the Bireun, North Aceh, Bener Meriah, and Singkil areas.

The presence of these public kitchens ensures that affected residents, especially those still in evacuation posts, can regularly receive adequate food and daily necessities.

"PLN is always by the community's side under any circumstances. Our presence today is a demonstration of our commitment to helping residents accelerate post-disaster recovery," PLN President Director Darmawan Prasodjo said.

Aceh's landslides and floods had caused 12 transmission towers to collapse, thus disrupting the electricity supply. PLN has dispatched approximately 500 joint personnel from PLN units across Indonesia to expedite the construction of emergency transmission towers in Aceh.

PLN is also working alongside the regional governments, armed and military forces, as well as the regional disaster management agencies (BPBD).

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