BNPB Aims to Complete Temporary Housing in Gayo Lues Before Eid 2026

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) is ensuring that residents of Gayo Lues Regency, Aceh Province, will no longer be living in evacuation tents ahead of Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijri (2026). BNPB Head Lieutenant General Suharyanto stated that 1,518 temporary housing units (huntara) for flood-affected residents in Gayo Lues had been completed by Tuesday, 10 March 2026.

This represents 88 per cent of the target of 1,713 huntara units in Gayo Lues. Suharyanto expressed hope that construction of all temporary housing in Gayo Lues would be completed shortly, allowing residents to celebrate Eid in more adequate housing.

“We are ensuring that by Eid 2026, for Gayo Lues Regency, there will no longer be any residents living in tents,” Suharyanto stated in a written statement on Thursday, 12 March 2026.

He emphasised that BNPB will continue to support families still awaiting huntara construction. During this period, Suharyanto said residents would be placed in more suitable locations, such as government-owned training centre buildings. “So that all affected residents in Gayo Lues Regency can enjoy and participate in Eid celebrations in a better and more dignified manner,” he said.

The ecological disaster of flash floods and landslides struck northern Sumatra in late November 2025, affecting 52 regencies and cities across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. BNPB recorded that 18 regencies and cities in Aceh were affected. As of Thursday, 12 March 2026, the death toll from flooding in Aceh stood at 564 people. Nearly four months later, 28 people remain reported missing. The ecological disaster in Aceh resulted in total damage to 255,051 homes, 141 healthcare facilities, 3,122 educational facilities, 641 places of worship, 649 bridges, and 1,648 roads.

In Gayo Lues Regency alone, 4,018 homes were damaged, comprising 3,089 severely damaged, 464 moderately damaged, and 465 lightly damaged.

One of the government’s recovery and rehabilitation efforts in affected areas is the construction of temporary housing units. These units are built on a communal basis to allow residents to move quickly from evacuation tents to more adequate housing.

One temporary housing construction site in Gayo Lues is located in Agusen Village, Blangkejeren District. Currently, based on BNPB data, the communal housing complex houses approximately 150 family heads. In addition to Agusen Village, temporary housing construction is also taking place in Rigeb Village, Dabun Gelang District.

At that location, 133 families have occupied the communal housing complex, which is equipped with basic facilities such as water and electricity supply. Each housing unit is also equipped with a toilet and bathroom.

Suharyanto explained that families newly occupying temporary housing will receive assistance with basic goods and non-food necessities to cover their needs for ten days. This assistance is provided to help meet residents’ basic needs before they receive livelihood support from the central government. “Families occupying temporary housing will receive assistance from BNPB consisting of provisions and food for ten days from when they move into temporary housing,” Suharyanto said.