January 12, 2026 | 02:00 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government is speeding up the permanent housing construction for Sumatra residents displaced by floods and landslides, said the Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas, Maruarar Sirait.
Maruarar said the government has prepared for this process, from clinching "clear and clean" locations, collecting name-by-address data, drafting detailed engineering design, to project tender and construction.
"We are ready. We are now at the final stage, which is the construction of permanent housing," he said as quoted from a written statement on Monday, January 12, 2026.
As of Friday, the ministry recorded approximately 189,308 disaster-affected homes across three Sumatra provinces. In Aceh, there were 64,740 slightly damaged houses, 40,103 moderately damaged, 29,527 severely damaged, and about 13,969 homes swept away by floods and landslides.
In North Sumatra, about 18,341 houses were slightly damaged, 3,616 moderately damaged, 5,149 severely damaged, and 937 swept away. Meanwhile, in West Sumatra, there were 6,627 slightly damaged houses, 2,842 moderately damaged, 2,666 severely damaged, and 791 houses washed away.
The government has also prepared relocation sites at various locations. In Aceh, there are 153 locations consisting of 41 local government-owned lands, 9 state-owned lands, 30 lands owned by SOEs and local-owned companies, 56 private-owned lands, and 17 lands still in the identification stage. In North Sumatra, there are 16 locations, while in West Sumatra, there are 28 relocation sites.
"The total relocation zones in Aceh reach 473 hectares of land, 58 hectares in North Sumatra, and 53 hectares in West Sumatra. Specifically in Aceh, out of the proposed 153 land sites, the total carrying capacity reaches 28,311 housing units. We have verified and declared 24 sites suitable," Maruarar said.
The housing minister emphasized that the construction of permanent housing must meet three main criteria: safe from potential disasters, no legal liability, and close to the community's central activities.
"The location must be safe from floods, tsunamis, or landslides. The land must also be legally clear and close to fields, workplaces, schools, and markets," he said.
To expedite the construction, Maruarar proposed to speed up the budgeting and procurement process. The government aims to kick off development in February 2026.
He also stressed the importance of using a single national data to ensure a swift and accurate handling process. "We are awaing the final data from Statistics Indonesia. This single data is important to avoid discrepancies and to coordinate all steps," Maruarar said.
Read: Gov't Sets Rp15-60 Million Housing Compensation for Sumatra Disaster Victims
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Floods Hit Several Indonesian Regions Over Past Two Days
4 jam lalu
The BNPB says that the Indonesian islands of Sumatra, West Nusa Tenggara, Kalimantan, and Java were hit by floods in the first week of January 2026.
PDIP Launches Book on Megawati's Disaster Risk Management
7 jam lalu
The launch of the book, 'Spirit of Humanity: Disaster Risk Management a la Megawati Soekarnoputri,' was conducted amidst disaster recovery efforts in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
Alleged Corporate Violations Behind Sumatra Floods
1 hari lalu
The task force said initial investigations in Aceh, Sumatra, target nine companies in river basins with suspected upstream forest conversion.
Gov't Sets Rp15-60 Million Housing Compensation for Sumatra Disaster Victims
1 hari lalu
Beyond housing compensation, the government is also providing assistance for basic household furnishings and economic recovery.
Indonesian Govt Convenes in Aceh for Post-Disaster Recovery Meeting
1 hari lalu
DPR is holding a meeting in Banda Aceh with the Task Force for Acceleration of Post-Sumatra Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction.
BNPB: Sumatra Disaster Fatalities Climb to 1,182
2 hari lalu
The BNPB official confirmed that the latest victims were identified as one individual in North Aceh, two in Langkat, and one in Central Tapanuli.
BMKG Issues Heavy Rain Alert for North Maluku and West Sumatra
3 hari lalu
This is the list of areas that received early warnings of heavy to intense rainfall from BMKG from January 9-15, 2026.
Sumatra Floods Damage Thousands of Hectares of Fish Ponds in Aceh
3 hari lalu
Fish ponds in Aceh manage various fisheries commodities, such as shrimp, milkfish, and snapper. North Aceh Regency is the most affected area.
Health Facility Rehabilitation After Sumatra Disaster to Finish in March
3 hari lalu
Minister Budi said that, apart from buildings, the Ministry of Health is also focusing on improving supporting facilities, such as ambulances.
Funding Sources Outlined for Sumatra Disaster Rehabilitation Task Force
3 hari lalu
The task force's budget is included in the government's rehabilitation and reconstruction funds following the Sumatra disaster.
