Task Force Chief Tito Monitors Progress on Infrastructure and MSME Facility Recovery in Sumatra

Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian, who heads the Task Force for the Acceleration of Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) following disasters in Sumatra, said efforts to address the damage were continuing in line with targets. These include rehabilitation and reconstruction of infrastructure and facilities for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

Tito made the remarks at a meeting and press briefing on progress in rehabilitating and reconstructing infrastructure and MSME facilities damaged by natural disasters in Sumatra. The event was held at the Ministry of Home Affairs headquarters on Wednesday, 28 October 2026. It was attended by MSME Minister Maman Abdurrahman and Public Works Ministry Secretary-General Apri Artoto.

According to the master plan for rehabilitation and reconstruction, post-disaster recovery in Sumatra is scheduled to run from 2026 to 2028. “The most important point is that accelerated rehabilitation and reconstruction in Sumatra is continuing, and will continue through 2028,” Tito said.

He added that the Public Works Ministry had a major responsibility for rebuilding damaged infrastructure, including roads, rivers, bridges and educational facilities. Many rivers had become silted up and required urgent attention, he said.

“If the sediment is not dealt with, even a little heavy rain will cause flooding again,” he said.

Tito said post-disaster recovery in Sumatra would take time because the natural disasters had caused widespread damage. Subsequent disasters, including floods, had also damaged infrastructure that had already been repaired.

“But that is our challenge. We will not stop tackling this in order to protect the people,” he said.

Public Works Ministry Secretary-General Apri Artoto outlined progress in infrastructure rehabilitation and reconstruction during 2026. The work covers irrigation systems, rivers, national bridges and roads, as well as health facilities and places of worship. “We will continue to accelerate the recovery process so that it is not only fast, but also well-targeted and sustainable,” he said.

MSME Minister Maman Abdurrahman said his ministry was tasked with supporting economic recovery in the three affected provinces.

The ministry’s responsibilities include distributing presidential assistance to 200,000 microbusinesses, procuring production equipment, empowering MSMEs and operating the Klinik UMKM Bangkit (MSME Recovery Clinic) service. The programmes are currently being rolled out gradually in affected areas.