Mount Sinabung Eruption: Bobby Nasution Ensures Refugee Needs are Met
The Governor of North Sumatra, Muhammad Bobby Afif Nasution, has ensured that the basic needs of residents affected by the Mount Sinabung eruption are met during their displacement. The North Sumatra Provincial Government is also continuing to strengthen emergency handling, particularly for residents located within the red zone of Mount Sinabung’s activity.
Bobby Nasution personally inspected the condition of refugees at the Suka Tepu Village Evacuation and Health Post, Namanterran District, Karo Regency, on Tuesday, 1 September 2026. This inspection followed a coordination meeting led by Bobby with the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) and the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources at the Sinabung Volcano Observatory.
The North Sumatra Provincial Government is prioritising the evacuation of residents within the eruption’s red zone radius. One location that has already been evacuated is Kuta Tengah Village, where 280 individuals out of approximately 600 residents have been moved to the Suka Tepu Evacuation Post.
During a dialogue with residents, Bobby urged the community to remain patient and not return to their homes until official government instructions regarding the safety of the area are issued.
Bobby emphasised that the North Sumatra Provincial Government guarantees the fulfilment of basic needs for all affected residents. This measure is being taken to ensure that refugees feel comfortable so they are not compelled to return to areas that remain dangerous.
“What we have prepared is to ensure that the facilities here are sufficient, because we do not want those evacuating to feel uncomfortable and suddenly return to their homes. We are ensuring everything from sleeping facilities, water, toilets, and food,” said Bobby Nasution.
He stated that the provincial government is standardising the adequacy of sleeping arrangements, including the availability of mats and blankets, ensuring the supply of clean water, increasing lighting, and improving the cleanliness of sanitation facilities and toilets. Food and drink supplies are also being secured, while support fleets are on standby to distribute essential goods continuously.
In addition to basic needs, the North Sumatra Provincial Government will prepare special transport buses for school children affected by the displacement. Bobby also requested that TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces) and Polri (National Police) personnel be deployed to guard the fields and livestock left behind by residents during the period of evacuation.