PRR Task Force Head Urges Acceleration of Sumatra Disaster Recovery through Inter-Regional Collaboration

The head of the Task Force for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) post-Sumatra disaster, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, has stressed that efforts to accelerate recovery from the impacts of the hydrometeorological disaster in Sumatra are ongoing through strengthened collaboration among local governments. The central government, he said, is urging local governments to assist neighbouring regions that have been severely affected and suffered heavy damage. “From the latest update this morning, three regions have already made commitment statements to help the affected areas, namely Simalungun, Asahan, and Pematangsiantar,” Tito stated in a press release received by Kompas.com on Wednesday (25/3/2026). That statement was delivered by Tito during the PRR Post-Sumatra Disaster press conference at the Presidential Staff Office in Jakarta on Wednesday. The TKD budget is allocated to the Provincial Governments of Aceh, North Sumatra (Sumut), and West Sumatra (Sumbar), to then be distributed to all regencies/cities in those three provinces, including areas not directly affected. Therefore, the central government is advising regional heads in relatively safe or unaffected areas who still receive budget allocations to be willing to channel some of their funds in the form of grants to neighbouring regions. This step is considered important to strengthen the capacity of regions with high levels of damage that face budget constraints, such as Aceh Tamiang Regency. Furthermore, he conveyed that the target for completing rehabilitation and reconstruction post-disaster in those three provinces is estimated to take up to three years. The development focus includes providing permanent housing (huntap), building permanent infrastructure such as bridges and roads that are currently still temporary/emergency, and restoring basic service facilities. “This process requires time that is not short, not just a few months, but can take two to three years,” Tito explained.