Minister Ara Signals Permanent Housing Construction for NTT Earthquake Victims

Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP) Maruarar Sirait is prepared to work more quickly in response to the earthquake disaster that struck East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). One possibility being opened is the construction of permanent housing, or huntap, for the victims.

He expressed his condolences over the earthquake that hit the NTT region. Coordination with various parties continues to be carried out to accelerate the handling.

“We have also held a meeting with the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK), I have also coordinated internally, I have also coordinated with the governor, and I have also instructed that we work faster, coordinate faster and more accurately,” said Maruarar, known as Ara, in Jakarta on Monday, 17 August 2026.

According to him, the current situation is still in the emergency response phase, while the PKP’s task is to build permanent housing, working more quickly in cooperation with colleagues in the regions.

“I know this is still in the emergency response period, but just as in Sumatra, during the emergency response we also began working together to build permanent housing. So we must work even faster in accordance with President Prabowo’s directive for our people,” said Ara.

For information, President Prabowo has assured that the government is striving to provide the best handling for the people of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) affected by the earthquake by deploying relevant officials to go directly to the field.

As part of these efforts, Prabowo said the government has sent 50,000 basic food aid packages to NTT on Saturday (15/8) to help ease the needs of communities affected by the disaster.

In addition, the President has also instructed cross-sector cooperation to ensure that post-earthquake handling proceeds quickly and on target. He has ordered relevant officials to see firsthand the conditions at the disaster site.

The President also asked teams from Perum Bulog, PT PLN (Persero), PT Pertamina (Persero), and PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk to be involved in handling on the ground.

Prabowo stressed that the safety and fulfilment of the people’s basic needs are the government’s top priority in facing the emergency conditions caused by the earthquake. The Head of State also assured that the government will continue to make its best efforts to restore conditions in NTT after the disaster.