Disaster Victims in North Sumatra No Longer Residing in Refugee Tents

Medan (ANTARA) - The North Sumatra Provincial Government (Pemprov Sumut) has assured that all victims of hydrometeorological disasters are no longer residing in refugee tents. Assistant for Government and Public Welfare of the North Sumatra Provincial Secretariat, Basarin Yunus Tanjung, stated that the evacuees have moved to more decent housing. “Whether temporary housing (huntara), permanent housing (huntap), or rented houses facilitated by the government,” Basarin revealed, who is also the Daily Chairman of the North Sumatra Disaster Response Post at the Governor’s Office, on Wednesday. The latest data from the North Sumatra Disaster Management Operations Control Centre (Pusdalops PB) recorded 4,843 individuals from 1,412 households still evacuating in Central Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, on Sunday (15/3). They are part of the 13,378 people from 3,371 households affected across five regencies/cities in North Sumatra due to hydrometeorological disasters that occurred at the end of November 2025. “North Sumatra has zero evacuees. The evacuees are now occupying huntara and huntap. Some are also renting temporary houses with funds provided by the government,” Basarin emphasised. His side explained that the construction of permanent housing is being accelerated in various disaster-affected areas across regencies/cities in North Sumatra. As part of this acceleration, 120 units of permanent housing in Hapesong Village, South Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, have been handed over to the affected community. “Last week, 120 huntap units in Hapesong Village, South Tapanuli, were handed over to the affected community. The remaining permanent housing units are being rushed to completion,” he said. Basarin also stated that the construction of permanent housing is being carried out collaboratively, involving various parties from government, state institutions to the private sector. “We are continuously accelerating together with the private sector and state institutions. We hope this collaboration remains strong, so that the affected community can recover quickly and return to normal life,” Basarin remarked. Tito, who is also the Head of the Task Force for Accelerating Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sumatra, particularly in three provinces, namely West Sumatra, North Sumatra, and Aceh, said, “We appreciate the Regent who quickly provided data, so that assistance can be delivered immediately,” Tito stated along with the Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP) RI Maruarar Sirait accompanied by the Deputy Governor of North Sumatra Surya after the Handover of Keys for Phase One of 120 Permanent Housing Units for Disaster Victims in South Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, on Friday (27/3).