Task Force Head Tito Ensures Disaster Victims' Housing Aid in Sumatra is On Target

JAKARTA - The Task Force for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (Satgas PRR) Post-Sumatra Disaster ensures that the distribution of housing assistance to disaster survivors in Sumatra is carried out on target. Head of Satgas PRR Post-Sumatra Disaster Muhammad Tito Karnavian assesses that multi-layered verified data is key to aid that matches community needs. “Data from local governments is verified by BPS (Statistics Indonesia), which will determine whether this is truly minor damage or truly moderate damage,” said Tito in his statement on Tuesday (24/3/2026). Furthermore, the Minister of Home Affairs also stated that housing repair assistance is provided according to the level of house damage. For houses with minor damage, repair fund assistance of Rp15 million is given. Houses with moderate damage receive assistance of Rp30 million. As the first option, Satgas PRR also provides the option of assistance of Rp60 million if disaster victims wish to build their own houses independently. If this option is chosen, the government will not build permanent housing, but will provide assistance of Rp60 million in two stages so that the funds are used on target. The second option, victims can choose to have their houses built by the government at the original location (in situ). Third, residents can have houses built communally at relocation sites prepared by local governments. “Those who request in situ will have houses built on their land by BNPB. Those who want a complex will have houses built by the Minister of Public Works and Housing on land prepared by local governments,” he continued. Tito also encourages local governments to conduct direct data collection to affected residents’ homes. Subsequently, the local-level data collection will then be verified by Statistics Indonesia (BPS) before the construction process begins. To accelerate the data collection process, Tito mentioned that local governments can form special task forces or teams for data collection. “So the faster they (local governments) collect data, after that BPS will come down to verify. After BPS validation, execution of construction by BNPB or the Ministry of Public Works and Housing or there will be special assignments,” said Tito.