Task Force urges faster progress on rehabilitation and reconstruction in Sumatra

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian, in his role as head of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sumatra, has urged ministries and agencies to speed up projects under way this year, with the aim of completing them before 31 December 2026.

Tito made the remarks to reporters after attending a ministerial-level coordination meeting on progress in accelerating post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra. The meeting was held at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Tito said disaster response had previously passed through an emergency phase focused on evacuations, assistance for victims and saving lives, followed by an emergency transition period. During the emergency response, President Prabowo Subianto mobilised national resources, including the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the National Police (Polri), the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) and local governments.

“During the emergency response, the President also provided an initial allocation of an additional Rp268 billion for unexpected expenditure. Then, during the transition period, the President established a task force, chaired by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, with all coordinating ministers as members, along with the National Police Chief, the TNI Commander and the Finance Minister,” he said.

General hospitals and community health centres are also operating again. However, six auxiliary health centres in North Sumatra were damaged or destroyed by the disaster and still require attention, he said.

Education has resumed, but of the 4,922 affected educational institutions, 99 schools are still holding classes in temporary facilities. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is addressing the issue in coordination with the Public Works Ministry and the Army.

“We are also very grateful to our colleagues in the Army, whose bridge task force has built hundreds of bridges. The police have also built more than 100 — around 120, if I am not mistaken,” Tito said.

Although many services are being restored, Tito warned that heavy rain continues to trigger further floods and landslides in several areas. This is adding to the government’s work to restore access and residents’ daily activities.

Tito therefore asked ministries and agencies that have received budget allocations to speed up implementation in line with this year’s targets.

He stressed that repairs to schools, homes, roads, bridges and facilities supporting local livelihoods must continue so that affected residents can benefit as soon as possible.

“We hope this coordination will speed up all processes, get all ministries and agencies moving, and encourage local governments to act faster using their own budgets and the additional funding,” he said.

Those attending the meeting included Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar, Housing and Settlements Minister Maruarar Sirait, National Disaster Mitigation Agency head Kristomei Sianturi and other officials.