Disaster Recovery Task Force Accelerates Temporary Housing and Waiting Funds, Targets Refugee Reduction Before Eid
The Task Force for Accelerating Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (Satgas PRR) in Sumatra is committed to increasing occupancy of temporary housing units (huntara) and distributing waiting housing funds (DTH) to reduce the number of refugees still living in tents following floods and landslides in the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra (Sumut), and West Sumatra (Sumbar).
Amran, spokesperson for the Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Task Force for Sumatra, confirmed that efforts would continue to reduce the number of tent-dwelling refugees before Eid al-Fitr 2026. The rehabilitation and reconstruction scheme will proceed in stages, beginning with increasing huntara occupancy, distributing DTH funds, and conducting mud clearance operations.
“The number of refugees in tents will continue to decrease ahead of the forthcoming Eid al-Fitr celebrations. We are optimistic that the refugee population will continue to decline and move into temporary housing units, so that we no longer see refugees living in tents,” Amran stated on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.
According to the Satgas PRR report as of 10 March, the number of completed temporary housing units across the three affected provinces has reached 14,725 units out of a total of 18,697 planned units, representing 78 per cent completion.
Aceh province accounts for the largest number of temporary housing construction, with 12,926 units completed out of a total of 16,847 planned units, representing 76 per cent progress. In North Sumatra, 969 units have been completed out of 1,020 planned units, achieving 95 per cent progress. In West Sumatra, all 830 planned units have been completed, achieving 100 per cent progress.
Whilst increasing huntara occupancy, the Satgas PRR is also gradually constructing permanent housing units (huntap). According to the Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Task Force report dated 9 March, 1,463 units are currently under construction out of 36,669 planned units, with six units already completed.
In addition to accelerating temporary housing construction, the Satgas PRR is also distributing Waiting Housing Funds (DTH) to disaster survivors who choose not to live in temporary housing. The DTH assistance amounts to Rp600,000 per month for three months, so that each household head receives a total of Rp1.8 million.
To date, all DTH recipient accounts have received fund transfers, with distribution reaching 100 per cent for 12,771 beneficiaries across the three provinces. The breakdown comprises 6,846 recipients in Aceh, 4,162 recipients in North Sumatra, and 1,763 recipients in West Sumatra.
The strategy to accelerate temporary housing, permanent housing construction, and DTH distribution has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of refugees in tents. According to the Satgas PRR report dated 9 March, there has been a significant decrease in tent-dwelling refugees across the three provinces. From 2,300 households on 8 March, the figure decreased to 1,872 households or a reduction of 428 households on 9 March, representing approximately 5,963 tent-dwelling refugees.