Tito Karnavian Urges Local Governments to Complete Data for Immediate Aid Disbursement

The Head of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Post-Disaster in Sumatra (Kasatgas PRR Sumatera), Tito Karnavian, has emphasised that the speed and completeness of data from local governments are key to accelerating the disbursement of aid to disaster victims in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. He said that the Central Government prioritises areas that submit the data on affected victims the fastest to receive aid first. The remarks were made during a handover of aid, heirs’ compensation, aid for injured victims, livlihood guarantees, housing contents, and socio-economic stimulus assistance to victims of hydrometeorological disasters in Pidie Jaya Regency, Aceh Province, on Friday (6 March 2026). “The strategy is simple: whoever sends the data fastest, will also be the fastest to receive social assistance from us,” Tito said in a written statement on Saturday (7 March 2026). He noted that the first phase of aid amounts to almost Rp900 billion, with about half allocated to Aceh. Pidie Jaya is the area receiving the largest share because its data submission was the fastest and most complete. “From nearly Rp900 billion in first-phase aid, about half is for Aceh. Of the Aceh portion, more than Rp200 billion was disbursed to Pidie Jaya because its data was the fastest and most complete,” he added. According to data from the Ministry of Social Affairs, the aid disbursed includes heirs’ compensation for 56 deceased victims amounting to Rp840 million, aid for 23 seriously injured victims worth Rp115 million, and a 90-day life security (jadup) for 66,629 people with a total value of around Rp89.9 billion. In addition, the government provided temporary housing contents (huntara) for 18,839 households worth Rp56.5 billion, and socio-economic stimulus for 18,839 households worth Rp94.1 billion, to support economic recovery in the post-disaster community, with a total of Rp241.6 billion. The aid is channelled through PT Pos Indonesia. Separately, the Ministry of Home Affairs also provided support in the form of 250 sets of worship equipment, 20 dump trucks, seven excavators, and three backhoe loaders to accelerate the handling and recovery of disaster-affected areas. “In addition to direct aid, the government is preparing permanent housing (huntap) for residents whose homes were severely damaged or destroyed by the disaster,” he explained. Tito stressed that the pace of permanent housing construction also depends on the completeness of data from local governments, including residents’ choices whether to build on their own land or in a communal housing area. He urged regional heads to immediately form teams to document residents in detail so that the process of constructing permanent housing can be carried out promptly. “If the data is complete, we can directly execute in coordination with BNPB and the Ministry of Public Housing,” he concluded. During the Kasatgas PRR visit to Pidie Jaya, Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf, Directorate General of Regional Administration Safrizal ZA, Aceh Deputy Governor Fadhlullah, Pidie Jaya Regent Sibral Malasyi, and Pos Indonesia President Director Haris were also present. (akn/ega)