Disaster Relief Task Force Targets Zero Refugee Tent Camps before Eid al-Fitr 2026
Jakarta — The Acceleration Task Force for Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (Satgas PRR) for Sumatra is targeting the relocation of all refugees still residing in emergency tent shelters across Aceh, North Sumatra (Sumut), and West Sumatra (Sumbar) provinces to more appropriate housing before Eid al-Fitr 2026.
Muhammad Tito Karnavian, Head of the Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Task Force for Sumatra, stated that accelerating refugee relocation is one of the focus areas in the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase.
“We hope to complete this as quickly as possible before Eid al-Fitr. Ideally, before Eid al-Fitr, no one should be living in tents but in temporary housing units or receiving housing assistance funds,” Tito said in a statement in Jakarta on Sunday.
He explained that the number of refugees has experienced significant decline compared to the early disaster phase. From more than two million affected persons in the initial phase, as of 27 February 2026, only 11,307 individuals remain in refugee camps.
The majority are in Aceh Province with 10,394 persons, whilst North Sumatra has 913 remaining. In West Sumatra, all refugees have already left emergency tent shelters.
To support this acceleration, the Satgas PRR continues to promote the construction of temporary housing (huntara), permanent housing (huntap), and the distribution of housing assistance funds.
Based on Satgas PRR data as of 27 February 2026, the target for huntara construction across the three provinces reaches 18,253 units, with 10,498 units completed, representing 57 per cent.
Meanwhile, huntap construction has also commenced. A total of 1,363 units are under construction out of a target of 36,669 units. Additionally, six huntap units in West Sumatra have been completed.
In parallel, the distribution of home repair assistance continues in stages. From over 73,000 homes identified as having sustained light, moderate, or severe damage, verification and disbursement processes are being accelerated to enable communities to conduct repairs independently.
The Satgas PRR ensures intensive cross-ministerial and inter-agency coordination alongside local government to expedite housing completion. Support from the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), and Danantara, along with provincial and regency/city governments, is essential in ensuring affected communities quickly occupy safe and adequate housing.