Tito Requests Three-Month Food Stockpile for Mountainous Regions of Sumatra

The head of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sumatra, who also serves as Interior Minister Tito Karnavian, has called for the strengthening of food stocks in Sumatra’s highland regions. Tito said that mountainous areas in particular should have supplies prepared for a minimum of three months.

Tito made the remarks during a joint meeting with House of Representatives leaders at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday (18 February 2026). He began by noting that disaster patterns in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra are broadly similar.

“In highland areas, what generally occurs are landslides caused by extremely heavy rainfall. These landslides result in severed roads and damaged bridges, whilst some areas also experience flooding, particularly along riverbanks,” Tito said.

According to him, a number of towns including Aceh Tengah, Takengon, Gayo Lues, Bener Meriah, Aceh Tenggara, North Tapanuli and Humbang Hasundutan were not directly affected by the disasters. However, these areas became isolated as road access was blocked by landslides.

“The towns themselves — Aceh Tengah, Takengon, Gayo Lues, Bener Meriah and Aceh Tenggara — were not impacted, but they were locked in. That is what caused the initial logistical difficulties,” he said.

“In these mountainous areas, there has not been a disaster of this scale for decades, so their logistics systems could perhaps sustain them for only three days. That is what happened in Takengon, where at one point demonstrations nearly broke out due to logistical shortages,” he added.

Drawing lessons from that situation, Tito confirmed he had already coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Food Agency and state logistics firm Bulog to strengthen food reserves. Tito requested that food stocks be prepared for three months.

“We have already coordinated with the Minister of Agriculture, the Head of the National Food Agency, as well as Bulog and Danantara, so that food and logistics stocks — learning from this case — are stocked for three months. Bulog has already sent rice, and cooking oil is being dispatched in stages to sustain supplies for three months,” he said.