Government Ensures Post-Disaster Recovery in Sumatra is Empowerment-Oriented

Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar has affirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the post-disaster recovery process in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra is inclusive, integrated, and oriented towards community empowerment. “Through cross-sector synergy, the government is striving to ensure every rehabilitation and reconstruction programme delivers tangible benefits to the community and accelerates the revival of affected areas towards a more resilient and empowered condition,” said Minister Muhaimin Iskandar in Jakarta on Thursday. He made the statement while attending a ministerial meeting titled “Steering Committee for the Task Force on Accelerating Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in the Provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra” in Jakarta. He stated that accelerating the community’s economic recovery is a crucial foundation in the rehabilitation and reconstruction process. “Rehabilitation and reconstruction are not only about rebuilding damaged infrastructure, but also about ensuring the community can return to doing business, working, and earning a decent living. The people’s economic recovery must go hand in hand with physical development,” said Muhaimin Iskandar. His office noted that the recovery of MSMEs in the three provinces is showing good progress, particularly in the warung, kedai, restaurant, and café sectors, which are back in operation and serving the community. He assured that the recovery process is not solely focused on physical construction, but also on restoring the lives and livelihoods of the affected communities. During the meeting, the government evaluated the progress of rehabilitation and reconstruction in the disaster-affected areas of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. Various achievements have shown significant progress. The availability of fuel, LPG, internet networks, and electricity supply has generally been restored. Internet service support via Starlink has also helped maintain connectivity in several previously isolated areas. The government also noted progress in the housing sector. More than 170,000 affected homes have received various forms of assistance, ranging from home repair aid, furniture assistance, economic stimulus, living allowances, to temporary housing waiting funds. In addition, the construction of temporary shelters is almost entirely complete, meaning all survivors have moved out of refugee tents. “Nevertheless, a number of challenges still require joint attention. The recovery of the agriculture and fisheries sectors is a primary focus because it is directly linked to the community’s source of livelihood,” he said. Furthermore, the government continues to accelerate the construction of clean water and sanitation facilities through the building of bathing, washing, and toilet facilities (MCK) and boreholes with the support of various ministries, agencies, local governments, the TNI, and the Task Force. Most of the community’s clean water needs have been met, although the completion of several boreholes is still ongoing.