Task Force Head Praises Acceleration of Temporary Housing in Bener Meriah, Welcomed by Survivors' Smiles

The Chairman of the Task Force (Satgas) for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) Post-Disaster Sumatra, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, inspected the progress of temporary housing (huntara) in Tunyang Village, Timang Gajah Subdistrict, Bener Meriah Regency, Aceh, on Monday (20/4/2026). During the visit, Tito appreciated the acceleration of huntara construction, which has seen significant progress in just two months. He admitted to being surprised by the changed conditions at the site, which was previously still an empty plot. “I came here two months ago with the Regent and Deputy Governor; at that time, this location was still in the initial stage. Now it has changed completely. This is extraordinary,” Tito said in a written statement received by Kompas.com on Tuesday (21/4/2026). According to him, one of the key success factors in building huntara in Tunyang is the availability of adequate land. “In many areas, finding flat land for huntara is very difficult due to hilly conditions. Here, the land is already prepared, so construction can be done quickly,” he explained. The huntara in Tunyang Village serves as an example of proper housing arrangement for survivors of the flood and landslide disaster that occurred at the end of December 2025. In addition to being built quickly, this area is also deemed to meet comfort standards for its residents. From an environmental perspective, the relatively flat and rocky ground surface makes the housing area non-muddy, even during rain. Access roads within the area have also been hardened, facilitating residents’ mobility. “Such arrangements are important because huntara is not just temporary accommodation, but also a living space that must be decent,” Tito stated. Each unit is equipped with supporting facilities for daily needs, while public facilities are built in an integrated manner within one area. The availability of communal kitchens, toilets, bathrooms, gathering rooms, and places of worship shows that huntara construction is no longer merely emergency in nature, but is starting to move towards a humane and sustainable housing concept. In addition, open spaces such as children’s play areas and sports facilities further strengthen the social function of the area, keeping the living environment comfortable for residents. Tito assessed that the construction model in Tunyang could serve as a reference for other regions, especially those with geographical challenges. Nevertheless, he emphasised that huntara is temporary. The government continues to encourage the acceleration of permanent housing (huntap) construction so that the community can soon have permanent residences. The visit was part of field evaluations to ensure that huntara construction is not only fast but also of quality and oriented towards short-term needs and long-term community recovery affected by the disaster.