Government Ensures Post-Disaster Recovery in Sumatra is Empowerment-Oriented
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment, Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that 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 that every rehabilitation and reconstruction programme delivers real benefits to the community and accelerates the recovery of affected regions towards a more resilient and empowered state,” said Minister Muhaimin Iskandar in Jakarta on Thursday.
He made these remarks while attending a ministerial meeting titled “Steering Team of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in the Provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra” in Jakarta.
He stated that accelerating the economic recovery of the community is a vital foundation in the rehabilitation and reconstruction process.
“Rehabilitation and reconstruction should not only rebuild damaged infrastructure but must also ensure that the community can return to business, work, and obtain a decent livelihood. The economic recovery of the people must proceed alongside physical development,” said Muasting Muhaimin Iskandar.
His office noted that the recovery of MSMEs in the three provinces is showing good progress, particularly in the sectors of stalls, shops, restaurants, and cafes, which have resumed operations and are serving the public.
He ensured that the recovery process does not only focus 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 supplies has generally returned to normal. Internet service support via Starlink has also helped maintain connectivity in several previously isolated areas.
The government also noted progress in handling the housing sector. More than 170,000 affected houses have received various forms of assistance, ranging from house repair grants, furniture assistance, and economic stimulants to living allowances and housing waiting funds.
Furthermore, the construction of temporary housing is almost entirely complete, ensuring that all survivors have moved out of evacuation tents.
“Nevertheless, several challenges still require collective attention. The recovery of the agricultural and fisheries sectors is a primary focus because it is directly related to the community’s livelihoods,” he said.
Additionally, the government continues to accelerate the construction of clean water and sanitation facilities through the building of bathing, washing, and toilet (MCK) facilities and boreholes, with support from various ministries, agencies, local governments, the TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces), and the Task Force.
Most of the community’s clean water needs have been met, although the completion of several boreholes is still ongoing.