Task Force Chief Tito Karnavian Inspects Temporary Shelters and Holds Dialogue with Refugees in Pidie Jaya

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri), who also serves as the Chair of the Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Acceleration Task Force (PRR) for Sumatra after the disaster, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, on Friday, 6 March 2026, inspected temporary housing sites (huntara) in Pidie Jaya Regency, Aceh. During the visit, Tito, together with Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul) and Aceh’s Deputy Governor Fadhlullah, checked the facilities available in the huntara and engaged in dialogue with the refugees.

In his briefing, Tito explained that the huntara built in Pidie Jaya are divided into four types: those built by BPI Danantara, those initiated by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), those built by the Ministry of Public Works (PU), and those established through mutual cooperation by community organisations (ormas) and volunteers. Among the four types, he noted differing facility characteristics: for instance, BNPB shelters have no beds but feature a larger kitchen and their own toilet; Danantara shelters are similar to PU ones with beds and fans for cooler, more comfortable conditions, but the kitchen and toilet, and bathroom are shared.

Although there are differences in facilities, the government ensures that the evacuees continue to receive decent and comfortable housing. He stressed that the government is pressing ahead with relocating refugees from tents to huntara or to more suitable dwellings under the Wait for Housing (DTH) scheme before Eid al-Fitr 1447 AH.

From the data in his possession, among the three provinces affected by the disaster in Sumatra, only West Sumatra Province has zero refugees in tents.

‘Our target with BNPB yesterday was that all would be housed in huntara, and regarding meals, BNPB will cover them for the next ten days. After that, the lauk-pauk allowances and daily necessities (jadup), as termed, will come from the Ministry of Social Affairs,’ Tito concluded.

Also present at the inspection were Pidie Jaya Regent Sibral Malasyi; the Director General of Regional Administration of the Ministry of Home Affairs Safrizal ZA, and other relevant parties.