Sumatra Refugee Relocation Targeted for Completion Before Eid al-Fitr 2026
The Task Force for Acceleration of Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) is pursuing the relocation of Sumatra disaster evacuees to more suitable relocation sites before Eid al-Fitr 2026.
Tito Karnavian, Chair of the Post-Disaster PRR Task Force for Sumatra and Minister of Home Affairs, stated that accelerating evacuee relocation is a key priority in the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase. He noted that the number of evacuees has experienced a significant decline compared to the early stages of the disaster.
From two million affected residents in the initial phase, as of 27 February 2026, 11,307 people remain in evacuation shelters. The majority are in Aceh Province with 10,394 people, whilst North Sumatra has 913 remaining evacuees. All evacuees in West Sumatra have departed emergency shelters.
“We hope to complete this as quickly as possible before Eid al-Fitr. Ideally, before Eid al-Fitr, everyone would not be in tents but in temporary housing (huntara) or receiving housing waiting assistance funds,” Tito said during a ministerial coordination meeting in Jakarta on Friday, 27 February 2026.
To support this acceleration, the PRR Task Force continues to encourage the construction of temporary housing (huntara), permanent housing (huntap), and the distribution of housing waiting assistance funds.
Based on PRR Task Force data as of 27 February 2026, the target for temporary housing construction across the three provinces is 18,253 units, with 10,498 units completed, representing 57 per cent realisation.
A total of 1,363 units out of a target of 36,669 permanent housing units are under construction. Six permanent housing projects in West Sumatra have been completed.
Tito stated that the distribution of home repair assistance for damaged houses is also proceeding in phases. From over 73,000 houses identified as having light, moderate, and severe damage, verification and fund disbursement processes are being accelerated so that affected communities can promptly undertake independent repairs.
Tito emphasised that the PRR Task Force ensures intensive cross-ministerial/institutional coordination and coordination with regional governments to speed up housing completion. According to him, support from the Ministry of Public Works, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Danantara, and provincial and district/city governments is critical in ensuring affected communities quickly occupy safe and suitable housing.