Home Affairs Minister: Name and Address-Based Victim Data Accelerates Aid Distribution
Indonesia’s Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian has requested that local governments provide detailed victim data based on names and addresses to accelerate the distribution of aid to the community.
Tito, who is also the Head of the Task Force for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Post-Disaster in Sumatra, stated that this is particularly important in three provinces of Sumatra, namely West Sumatra, North Sumatra, and Aceh.
“We appreciate the Regent who provided the data very quickly, so that aid can be delivered immediately,” said Tito along with the Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP) Maruarar Sirait, accompanied by the Deputy Governor of North Sumatra Surya, after the Handover of Phase One Keys for 120 Permanent Housing Units for Disaster Victims in South Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, on Friday.
The Home Affairs Minister also stated that verifying data by name by address or data based on names and addresses due to hydrometeorological disasters at the end of November 2025 is not an easy task.
“This is not light work. I ask other regions to emulate this speed so that government aid is on target and quickly received by the people,” Tito emphasised.
Indonesia’s PKP Minister Maruarar Sirait expressed her appreciation for the quality of the permanent housing as well as the temporary housing that has been built.
Her side highlighted the role of the Buddha Tzu Chi Foundation, which not only builds houses but also equips them with various facilities.
“This is an extraordinary collaboration. The land from PTPN (PT Perkebunan Nusantara), electricity from PLN, the houses from Buddha Tzu Chi,” said Maruarar.
North Sumatra Deputy Governor Surya appreciated the relevant ministries and donors in realising the 120 permanent housing units for disaster victims in South Tapanuli.
According to him, these permanent housing units are not just physical buildings, but a symbol of the state’s concern for disaster-affected communities.
“This development is a real manifestation of the state’s presence in providing certainty of decent and safe housing,” said Surya.
The construction of permanent post-disaster housing in Hapesong Baru Village, Batang Toru District, South Tapanuli, is a collaboration between the central government, North Sumatra Provincial Government, South Tapanuli Regency Government, and the Buddha Tzu Chi Foundation.
It is known that there are 227 permanent housing units in the area, with details of 120 units already completed, and 107 units still under construction targeted to be completed by 20 April 2026.
“We are committed to fully supporting the central government’s policy to accelerate the fulfilment of basic needs of the community in the housing sector, and we appreciate the speed of progress in this permanent housing construction,” said Surya.
South Tapanuli Regent Gus Irawan Pasaribu expressed thanks for the central government’s monitoring of this permanent housing.
“Central support motivates us to work quickly in verifying recipient data, so that the community can soon occupy comfortable housing,” he stated.