Task Force Chief Focuses on Rehabilitation of Priority Areas Following Sumatra Disaster
The Head of the Task Force for Acceleration of Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) Following the Sumatra Disaster, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, reported that conditions in most affected areas across Aceh Province, North Sumatra (Sumut), and West Sumatra (Sumbar) have now gradually returned to normal.
Of the 52 affected districts, 38 have returned to normal conditions whilst three districts are approaching normalcy. However, 11 districts across the three disaster-affected provinces still require special attention.
“We have made extraordinary progress over the past two and a half months. But there are also matters we must continue to pursue and complete,” Tito said at a Ministerial Coordination Meeting on Acceleration of Post-Natural Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra Provinces held at the Office of the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK) in Jakarta on Friday (27 February).
The 11 districts requiring special attention include Padang Pariaman, Agam, Central Tapanuli, South Tapanuli, Bireuen, East Aceh, Central Aceh, North Aceh, Gayo Lues, Aceh Tamiang and Pidie Jaya. Rehabilitation acceleration encompasses the public services sector, educational and healthcare facilities and infrastructure, land access, economic and social recovery, and other basic indicators.
“Other important basic indicators include fuel and petrol station supplies, drinking water, internet, liquefied petroleum gas, and sewage, waste management, and river normalisation,” Tito said.
Tito emphasised the acceleration of rehabilitation in the 11 specially-designated districts, commencing with mud clearance, land access restoration to isolated areas, river normalisation, and debris clearance from flash floods and landslides that remain accumulated in several areas.
To this end, he urged cross-sector coordination to maintain the intensity of field personnel work to rehabilitate the specially-designated areas.
“Personnel numbers have already begun to decrease, which we must monitor to prevent a slowdown, ensuring our pace does not decline due to personnel being withdrawn,” Tito said.
On the same occasion, Tito expressed appreciation to all involved institutions, including the Ministry of Public Works, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), and the National Police (Polri), for their efforts in restoring access to national roads, provincial and district roads, and connecting bridges to support logistics supply.
The coordination meeting was attended by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Praktikno; the Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security Djamari Chaniago; the Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono; the Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Muhaimin Iskandar; the Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas Rachmat Pambudy; and the Head of the Government Goods and Services Procurement Policy Institute Sarah Sadiqa.
Also present, virtually, were the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Brian Yuliarto; the Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid; the Deputy Minister for Women Empowerment and Child Protection Veronica Tan; the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency Suharyanto; and the Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency Arif Satria.