Government Targets Zero Emergency Tent Refugees in Sumatra Before Eid 2026
The government has targeted the complete elimination of refugees living in emergency tent shelters in Sumatra ahead of Eid al-Fitr 2026. The Task Force for the Acceleration of Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) following the Sumatra disaster has affirmed that relocation to more adequate housing will be expedited over the coming weeks.
Muhammad Tito Karnavian, head of the PRR Task Force for Sumatra, stated that accelerating relocation is a top priority in the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
“We hope to complete the process as soon as possible before Eid. Ideally, before Eid, no one will be in tents but rather in temporary housing (huntara) or receiving the housing waiting funds provided,” Tito said during a statement in Jakarta on Sunday (1 March).
He revealed that the number of refugees has declined significantly compared to the initial disaster phase. From over two million affected residents in the early stages, as of 27 February 2026, only 11,307 people remain in refugee shelters.
The majority of refugees are in Aceh with 10,394 people, whilst North Sumatra has 913 remaining. In West Sumatra, all refugees are reported to have already left the emergency shelters.
To accelerate relocation, the PRR Task Force is promoting the construction of temporary housing (huntara), permanent housing (huntap), and the distribution of housing waiting funds for residents who cannot yet occupy permanent dwellings.
Based on PRR Task Force data as of 27 February 2026, the target for constructing huntara units across the three provinces reaches 18,253 units. Of this total, 10,498 units have been realised, or approximately 57 per cent.
Meanwhile, permanent housing construction has also commenced. 1,363 units out of a target of 36,669 units are recorded as being under construction. Additionally, six permanent housing units in West Sumatra have been completed and are ready for occupancy.
On another front, the distribution of assistance for repairing damaged houses is being carried out in stages. From more than 73,000 houses identified as suffering minor, moderate, or severe damage, the verification process and disbursement of aid are continuously accelerated so that residents can promptly repair their homes independently. Tito assured that inter-ministerial and local government coordination continues to be strengthened to meet these targets.
“Coordination with the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the Infrastructure Finance Company (Danantara), and provincial and regency/city governments is proceeding intensively to enable affected residents to quickly occupy safe and adequate housing,” he said.