Sumatra's Post-Disaster Recovery Enters Permanent Rehabilitation Phase

The government has begun focusing on post-hydro-meteorological disaster recovery in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, moving into the permanent rehabilitation and reconstruction phase. The recovery program will be implemented gradually until 2028, prioritising basic infrastructure and permanent housing for affected residents.

Chairman of the Sumatra Disaster Recovery Acceleration Task Force (PRR), Muhammad Tito Karnavian, stated that disaster response is conducted through three main phases: emergency response, transition, and permanent recovery.

“The first phase after a disaster is emergency response. It is directly under the President’s command, with all ministries and agencies, as well as local governments, mobilising effectively,” Tito said after a coordination meeting between the PRR task force and the DPR’s Galapana task force at the DPR complex in Jakarta on Monday, 25 May 2026.

Tito explained that since the PRR task force was established on 8 January 2026, the government has accelerated cross-sector coordination to restore basic services. Local governance, electricity supply, fuel distribution, internet services, and healthcare facilities are gradually recovering in affected areas.

According to Tito, all national roads affected by the disaster have been restored. National bridges have also been reactivated, either through permanent construction or temporary solutions such as Bailey, Armco, pioneer, and suspension bridges.

“National bridges are functional and connected, albeit temporarily. Some use Bailey, pioneer, Armco, and suspension bridges, but they are operational for mobility,” Tito said.

Recovery is also evident in the education and housing sectors. Of the approximately 4,922 affected schools, most have resumed classes following repairs.

However, some schools still operate from temporary tents or share facilities with other schools, particularly in areas requiring relocation. The number of displaced people living in emergency tents is also decreasing as basic infrastructure and public services recover.

The government is currently drafting a Master Plan (Renduk) for accelerated rehabilitation and reconstruction to underpin permanent recovery. The document consolidates proposals from local governments, ministries, and agencies, and is synchronised with the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas and the PRR task force.

“We are now moving towards permanent recovery. From the three phases—emergency response, transition—we enter the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase, and the key is the Renduk,” Tito said.

The recovery Renduk is prepared for the 2026-2028 period, comprising 11,512 cross-sectoral activities. These include river infrastructure, roads, bridges, schools, and permanent housing for affected communities.

Tito stated the government will prioritise permanent housing construction in the first year to prevent prolonged stays in temporary shelters.