Government Implements Two Options to Ensure Disaster Survivors Do Not Celebrate Eid al-Fitr in Emergency Tents

Aceh Timur, Aceh — Indonesia’s Home Minister Tito Karnavian stated that the government is implementing two options to ensure residents affected by natural disasters from flooding in Aceh Province, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra do not celebrate Eid al-Fitr in emergency tents.

“Our target before Eid al-Fitr is that all disaster survivors will no longer be in emergency tents, with two options available: accommodation in temporary housing units (huntara) or a housing assistance allowance of 1.6 million rupiah,” Tito Karnavian told media representatives in Aceh Timur on Monday.

Tito explained that the government wants disaster survivors still residing in evacuation tents to move to more adequate housing, including during the Eid al-Fitr celebration.

He noted that temporary housing construction has shown considerable progress, and he is confident all residents can soon occupy these facilities.

The Public Works Ministry, he continued, has even established three teams to accelerate the construction of temporary housing units.

“The Public Works Minister is very confident that by 19 March at 23:00 hours everything will be completed, and by the next day, 20 March, they will be handed over,” he said.

Tito expressed hope that once temporary housing is completed, residents can immediately move in, allowing emergency tents to be quickly dismantled or cleared.

“We must ensure that when temporary housing exists, the scattered tents are not still standing. That does not look good and gives the impression that there are still many people in evacuation, when in reality there should no longer be any,” he said.