Refugee Numbers Drop 19 Percent in Two Days; Disaster Recovery Task Force Optimistic on Zero Tent Evacuees by Eid al-Fitr
The Task Force for Acceleration of Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (Satgas PRR) continues to demonstrate positive progress towards eliminating tent refugees from the Sumatra flood disaster. Tito Karnavian, head of the Satgas PRR and Minister of Home Affairs, expressed confidence that this target will be achieved before Eid al-Fitr.
“This is our target together with BNPB. All evacuees will eventually be relocated to temporary housing,” said Tito during his visit to Pidie Jaya Regency, Aceh on Friday, 6 March 2026.
As of 8 March 2026, 1,872 households from Aceh and North Sumatra remained in tents. This figure represents a reduction of 428 households compared to two days earlier when 2,300 households were living in emergency shelters. West Sumatra has already eliminated tent settlements for flood-affected residents. This sharp decline is notable given the initial scale of the disaster, which affected 2,178,269 people.
The government is accelerating the relocation of evacuees before Eid al-Fitr by moving them into newly constructed temporary housing units. Additionally, the government has established a housing waiting fund scheme providing 600,000 rupiah per household monthly for three months to support relocation to more suitable accommodation.
The 1,872 remaining households are distributed across Aceh (1,695 households) and North Sumatra (177 households), requiring intensified attention from all stakeholders in the Satgas PRR to ensure prompt relocation to adequate housing.
Amran, Director of Regional, Urban, and Border Areas at the Directorate General of Regional Development and spokesperson for the Satgas PRR, expressed confidence that no residents will remain in tent settlements before Eid al-Fitr. “We hope this downward trend continues until the forthcoming Eid al-Fitr celebration,” he stated at the Home Affairs Ministry office on Monday, 9 March 2026.
This achievement reflects collaboration between the Satgas PRR and various stakeholders, including BNPB, local governments, the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Public Works, and other relevant institutions.
The strategy encompasses accelerating temporary housing construction, with 12,563 units completed by 5 March 2026. Efforts also include mobilising evacuees from tents to habitable temporary housing, distributing housing waiting funds, and providing widespread and equitable home repair assistance for residents with minor and moderate damage.
The Satgas PRR, working with military, police, and IPDN personnel, has also undertaken cleaning and sanitation of residential areas and restoration of road connectivity buried under mud and debris from the late 2025 flooding.
This reflects the Satgas PRR’s commitment to accelerating recovery by ensuring all indicators—from governance delivery and basic public services to road connectivity, economic activity, and basic needs—are restored. This accelerated effort is achieved through intensive coordination with ministries, institutions, and local governments.