PRR Task Force Head Ensures Acceleration of Handling Displaced Persons in Aceh Tamiang
Indonesia’s Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) and Head of the Task Force (Kasatgas) for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) Post-Sumatra Disaster, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, directly inspected the conditions of displaced persons in Aceh Tamiang Regency, Aceh, on Saturday (4/4). This visit is a step to accelerate the handling of disaster-affected residents, including those still in tents.
During the inspection, Tito engaged in dialogue with displaced persons from three villages, namely Lubuk Sidup, Tanjung Gelumpang, and Sekumur, located in Sekerak Subdistrict, Aceh Tamiang Regency.
According to him, the number of displaced persons has decreased drastically compared to the initial post-disaster conditions at the end of November 2025. From around 2.1 million people who were once evacuated in the three affected provinces, the number is now increasingly reduced.
“What the government conveys is that [displaced persons who are no longer staying in tents] are approaching 100 percent. Why? We calculate roughly around 300 households (KK), roughly 1,000 displaced persons, compared to the initial 2.1 million people, that’s already more than 99 percent [no longer in tents],” Tito stated.
Although the number is relatively small, Tito emphasised that the government continues to give full attention to the remaining displaced persons, particularly in Aceh Tamiang and Bireuen. For displaced persons in Bireuen, permanent housing (huntap) is currently under construction.
“Then, those entering the Sekerak area, the villages I mentioned earlier, I want to check one by one, and then how to resolve it,” Tito said.
During the inspection, Tito directly observed the progress of temporary housing (huntara) construction in several villages, including Sekumur. He is optimistic that the construction of huntara for residents can be completed soon. Geographical conditions such as landslide-affected road access are one of the obstacles in accelerating construction in the area.
“Hopefully the weather supports, so by the end of next week, hopefully all the [huntara] in-situ, on their respective lands, can be built by BNPB (National Disaster Management Agency),” he said.
In addition to housing construction, the government also ensures various forms of assistance are provided to affected communities, such as food provisions, household appliances, and economic stimuli.
Tito also highlighted other basic needs, such as the provision of clean water, which will be fulfilled through the construction of bore wells by BNPB and the PRR Task Force. This step is based on community aspirations hoping for clean water source assistance.
Meanwhile, plans for centralised permanent housing (huntap) construction will also adjust to residents’ aspirations who desire relocation from disaster-prone areas.
“I just heard directly from the community, also from the village head, because the area is prone near the river, the community wants permanent housing built in the form of a complex,” Tito said.
He added that the huntap construction process will follow the certainty of land availability involving related ministries. In the meantime, during the transition period, the government guarantees that the needs of displaced persons remain fulfilled through the provision of huntara and ongoing social assistance.
On the same occasion, Tito also handed over several aid packages, including worship equipment, basic necessities, kitchen utensils, and several 2,000-litre water tanks.
Also present in the inspection were Regent of Aceh Tamiang Armia Pahmi, members of the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda) of Aceh Tamiang Regency, and other related officials. In addition, IPDN Rector Halilul Khairi, Director General of Regional Administration Development (Adwil) of the Ministry of Home Affairs Safrizal ZA, and other Ministry of Home Affairs officials were present.