Sumatra Post-Disaster Task Force Accelerates Mud Cleanup and Rice Paddy Rehabilitation Efforts

The Task Force for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (Satgas PRR) following the Sumatra disaster continues to accelerate the handling of mud cleanup and rice paddy land rehabilitation, damaged by floods and landslides in Aceh Province, North Sumatra (Sumut), and West Sumatra (Sumbar). In a press conference at the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) last Wednesday, the Head of the Task Force for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Post-Sumatra Disaster, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, revealed that mud cleanup is the government’s primary focus to speed up recovery in several affected areas. “This mud is the main problem in lowland areas. We have recorded the team compiling where the points are,” said Tito, quoted on Saturday, 28 March 2026. “We have the points, the number is approximately 445 in the three provinces. Those already completed in Sumatra total approximately 84%, with 16% remaining,” he stated. Additionally, Tito emphasised that his team is working to normalise rivers in the three affected provinces filled with mud sedimentation. He said that river normalisation is very important to prevent follow-up floods and support irrigation for rice fields and fish ponds of residents. It is known that this mud cleanup step is carried out to restore community activities and ensure public facilities previously impacted by floods and landslides can return to normal function. Meanwhile, rice paddy rehabilitation is conducted to maintain rice supplies and accelerate the recovery of farmers’ lives. Based on the Satgas report as of 28 March, significant progress in mud cleanup has been recorded in the three affected provinces. In detail, Aceh Province is the region with the highest number of locations achieved. Of a total of 476 locations targeted for cleanup, 396 locations have been successfully cleared, while 80 other locations are still in the processing stage. Meanwhile, in Sumut, of a total of 24 locations targeted for cleanup, 20 locations have been successfully cleared, while the rest are still in the processing stage. In Sumbar, the mud cleanup process has been fully completed. 29 affected locations have been thoroughly cleared at 100%. This mud cleanup achievement also aligns with the progress of rice paddy land that has been successfully rehabilitated. Based on Satgas PRR data as of 28 March, of a total of 42,702 hectares of rice paddies targeted for rehabilitation in the three affected provinces, 991 hectares have been successfully rehabilitated, while 5,333 hectares are still in the handling process.