Home Affairs Minister: Sumatra Disaster Recovery Cannot Be Completed in One Year
Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian has stressed that recovery from the major disaster that struck three provinces in Sumatra cannot be completed within a single year. The vastness of the affected area and the scale of the destruction mean the rehabilitation process will require a much longer period.
“Honestly, the extent of the impact requires time. It cannot be resolved in just one year. I guarantee it will not be possible. This is not a single stretch of land,” Tito said at the Government Communication Office in Jakarta on Wednesday (5/8).
According to Tito, the government does not want to oversimplify the issue because the scale of the disaster is enormous. The disaster hit three provinces, affecting a total of 53 districts/cities and 4,593 villages.
“It is rare to have a disaster across three provinces. The number of affected districts/cities is 53. This is not trivial. Have 53 districts/cities ever been affected by a single disaster? I think not in the modern era,” he stated.
Government data as of 4 August shows damage across various sectors. A total of 4,922 educational facilities suffered light to severe damage, followed by 954 health facilities and 1,593 places of worship. In the infrastructure sector, 1,193 bridges were affected due to collapse, breaking, or being severed. Damage also occurred on 2,495 central and regional roads, as well as 1,300 public facilities.
The death toll continues to rise as data is updated. As of 4 August, the number of fatalities reached 1,207 people, while 138 others remain missing. Damage to housing is also significant, with 184,149 houses recorded as damaged, comprising around 95,000 lightly damaged houses, more than 43,000 moderately damaged houses, and 45,222 heavily damaged or destroyed houses due to landslides or total collapse.
Tito said that throughout his career as a police officer and now as Home Affairs Minister, he has never witnessed a disaster of this scope. “For me personally, as a former police officer who has served as a district police chief, regional police chief, National Police chief, and now as Home Affairs Minister, I have never experienced a disaster event this extensive. I have experienced earthquakes, landslides, and the tsunami in Palu, and in Lombok, but not on this scale,” he said.
He explained that handling efforts are ongoing in all affected areas. In West Sumatra, most areas have returned to normal, but Agam and Padang Pariaman Regencies still require special attention. In North Sumatra, the government is focusing its efforts on Central Tapanuli and North Tapanuli. Meanwhile, in Aceh, seven districts still require special attention, prompting the government to deploy around 3,000 IPDN students to help accelerate recovery.
According to Tito, the biggest challenges lie in the highland areas, which have experienced landslides, changes in river flows, and damage to roads and bridges. Therefore, the government will continue phased rehabilitation until all areas can fully recover.