PRR Task Force: Tens of Thousands of Volunteers Collaborate to Restore Sumatra
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Chairman of the Task Force for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) Post-Disaster in Sumatra, Tito Karnavian, stated that tens of thousands of personnel continue to work together in the field to ensure that every stage of rehabilitation and reconstruction in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra proceeds in tandem.
From the initial response phase, the deployment of personnel from various ministries and agencies, TNI and Polri apparatus, local governments, and non-governmental humanitarian volunteers has been carried out on a massive scale through national mobilisation.
“The mobilisation carried out by the government from the beginning was a national mobilisation led directly by the President. The total at that time reached around 92,000 personnel from all ministries and agencies, not including non-governmental volunteers,” said Tito, who is also the Minister of Home Affairs, in his statement in Jakarta on Thursday.
Tito emphasised that cross-sectoral involvement is key to accelerating handling in the affected areas.
Entering the rehabilitation phase, the number of personnel has been adjusted to the increasingly controlled conditions.
Data from the PRR Task Force as of 31 March 2026 records 23,618 personnel from across ministries/agencies and civil service schools still on duty in the disaster-affected areas.
The involvement of volunteers across institutions is evident in various recovery sectors. The construction of temporary housing (huntara) is one clear example of such collaboration.
In addition to being handled by the government through BNPB, the Ministry of Public Works, and support from TNI-Polri, the housing construction also involves various community organisations and philanthropic institutions, such as Dompet Dhuafa, Rumah Zakat, and other humanitarian foundations.
This joint effort has also driven the acceleration of infrastructure recovery. Access to national roads and national bridges is now fully functional, so logistics distribution is no longer hindered.
On the other hand, temporary bridges built by TNI, Polri, and technical ministries have become vital links for areas that were previously isolated.
Meanwhile, mud cleanup, which is the main challenge in the affected areas, shows significant progress. Of the hundreds of affected points, most have been successfully cleaned, supporting the acceleration of community activities.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has also deployed Praja from the Institute of Domestic Government (IPDN) in three waves to assist with mud cleanup.
Recovery of basic services is also progressing quickly. Electricity has been restored in almost all areas, communication networks are back online, and health facilities such as hospitals and community health centres have resumed serving the public.
This achievement has a direct impact on reducing the number of evacuees. From an initial condition of more than 2.1 million people in December 2025, now only 36 families are recorded as still in tents and are being handled gradually.
The PRR Task Force ensures that the spirit of gotong royong will continue to be maintained until the entire rehabilitation and reconstruction process is complete, including the stage of permanent housing construction and environmental normalisation that is still ongoing.