Interior Minister Targets Completion of Temporary Housing for Sumatran Disaster Victims Within 10 Days

Jakarta — Indonesia’s Interior Minister (Mendagri), Tito Karnavian, stated that his ministry is requesting temporary housing to be completed within 10 days so that before Eid, there are no longer disaster-affected residents in Sumatra still living in tents.

“We have held meetings repeatedly. The numbers have decreased significantly from 12,000; now there are 6,000 remaining, now just around 1,600,” Tito said in Jakarta on Thursday during a donation ceremony for 31 ambulances from the private sector to the Health Ministry for post-disaster recovery in Sumatra.

“There are all sorts of health problems. The danger is if children contract measles,” he added.

Three institutions, he stated, are constructing temporary housing. Residents will be given a choice between living directly in temporary housing or receiving housing allowances to rent elsewhere.

“Because I heard that perhaps the President will visit (the temporary housing). Whether before Eid, during Eid, or after Eid. So, there should be no one left in tents,” he said.

Regarding housing, he stated that accommodation for healthcare workers needs to be prioritised, as they are the ones caring for others.

Tito mentioned that budgets of 15 million rupiah have been allocated for renovation of lightly damaged homes, 30 million rupiah for moderately damaged homes, and 60 million rupiah for severely damaged or lost homes.

“Or if they prefer a complex, it will be built by the Housing and Settlement Area Minister, Sir. That would be better,” he said.

Tito noted that other assistance for Sumatran disaster-affected residents includes daily food allowances of 15,000 rupiah per person per day provided for three months, furniture assistance of 3 million rupiah, and economic assistance of 5 million rupiah.