Saturday, 11 July 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - Relations between regions are not limited to government affairs, administrative processes, or the coordination of development programs. Beyond these aspects, regional ties also reflect humanitarian values that emerge when communities face difficult circumstances.
The spirit of togetherness and regional solidarity was demonstrated during a friendly meeting between Medan Mayor Rico Waas and Aceh Tamiang Regent Armia Fahmi at Pagi Sore Restaurant, Jalan Kejaksaan, Medan Petisah District, Medan City, on Thursday, July 9, 2026.The meeting became an important moment for the Aceh Tamiang Regency Government to express its appreciation and gratitude to the Medan City Government for the humanitarian assistance provided following the devastating flood disaster that struck at the end of November 2025.
Rico Waas explained that the assistance provided by the Medan City Government at that time was driven by concern for fellow citizens affected by the disaster. According to him, the fact that Medan was also severely impacted by flooding did not prevent the city administration from extending support to neighboring regions in need.Despite facing its own challenges in managing the disaster, Rico Waas continued to pay attention to the situation in Aceh Tamiang. He said reports from the affected area showed that the scale of destruction was extremely severe.
"We heard that the situation in Aceh Tamiang was very serious. The area was completely flooded, and the residents as well as the Regent himself urgently needed support at that time," Rico Waas recalled.Following the damage to public facilities and infrastructure in Aceh Tamiang, Rico Waas immediately took action, coinciding with the national commemoration of Hari Bela Negara. For him, the spirit of national responsibility is not only realized through protecting state sovereignty but also through helping communities facing difficult situations.
"At that time, I said: Alright, we will go to Tamiang. Let us help Tamiang. What do we have now? What does Aceh Tamiang need? Cleaning and recovery. Therefore, we sent firefighters and heavy equipment from the Water Resources, Road Construction and Building Agency (SDABMBK). We were not seeking recognition or anything in return. It was purely about humanity and friendship," said Rico Waas.The Medan City Government then deployed firefighting personnel and heavy machinery from the Water Resources, Road Construction and Building Agency (SDABMBK) to assist in clearing the flood damage in Aceh Tamiang.
The support did not end with the initial emergency response phase. Rico Waas emphasized that the recovery of Aceh Tamiang required a lengthy process because the flood had caused extensive damage to homes, important documents, and various government facilities."Nevertheless, we are confident and optimistic that Aceh Tamiang under the leadership of Mr. Armia Fahmi will soon rise again and become even more successful," Rico Waas said with confidence.
Aceh Tamiang Regent Armia Fahmi expressed his deepest appreciation for the support provided by the Medan City Government, which remained present from the initial emergency response phase through the post-disaster recovery period.
Armia stated that assistance from Medan played an important role in accelerating the restoration of damaged facilities following the major flood disaster. Firefighters and teams from the Medan City construction agency had supported the people of Aceh Tamiang for months."The first responders who arrived to help us came from the Medan City Government. The firefighters and heavy equipment from the construction agency greatly assisted us in cleaning important infrastructure damaged by this massive disaster. Remarkably, they worked in Tamiang for more than four months," Armia explained.
According to Armia, the presence of the Medan team provided not only technical assistance but also moral support for the people of Aceh Tamiang, who were working to rebuild their lives after the disaster.He explained that coordination between the Aceh Tamiang Government and the Medan City Government was flexible and based on mutual concern. This allowed the deployment of assistance teams to continue according to conditions and needs on the ground.
In addition to personnel and equipment, the Medan City Government also provided financial assistance to accelerate the recovery process in areas affected by the disaster."We came here bringing all representatives of our agencies, the Deputy Regent, and the Regional Secretary to meet the Mayor personally and convey our highest gratitude and appreciation," Armia added.
The meeting between the Medan City Government and the Aceh Tamiang Regency Government took place in a warm and family-oriented atmosphere. Both governments reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation and solidarity between regions.
Rico Waas and Armia Fahmi viewed the experience during the flood disaster as proof that cooperation and mutual assistance between regions play an important role in helping communities affected by emergencies.The meeting was also attended by Medan Deputy Mayor H. Zakiyuddin Harahap, Aceh Tamiang Deputy Regent Ismail, Aceh Tamiang Regional Secretary Syuibun Anwar, as well as leaders from various agencies of both regions.
The presence of government representatives demonstrated that regional cooperation is built not only through development programs but also through social responsibility and solidarity when communities require support. (IDNC)REPORTER: Teguh Panjaitan | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
DEPLOYMENT OF FIREFIGHTERS FOR HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE: Medan Mayor Rico Waas reaffirms humanitarian support for Aceh Tamiang through the deployment of firefighting personnel and heavy machinery for post-disaster recovery efforts. (PHOTO: Doc. Medan City Communication and Information Office)IDNC PHOTO Appreciation For Medan Mayors Support
APPRECIATION FOR MEDAN MAYOR'S SUPPORT: Aceh Tamiang Regent Armia Fahmi appreciates the assistance provided by the Medan City Government in evacuation and infrastructure cleaning efforts carried out for more than four months. (PHOTO: Doc. Medan City Communication and Information Office)
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