Indonesia accelerates Sumatra post-disaster reconstruction

Indonesian Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, acting as head of the Sumatra Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Task Force (Satgas PRR), has urged 29 ministries and agencies to expedite recovery efforts across three Sumatra provinces. The government aims to complete thousands of recovery projects, including the repair of schools, homes, roads, bridges, and public facilities, by December 31, 2026.

While many public services such as hospitals, clinics, electricity, and fuel supplies have returned to normal, recovery efforts face ongoing challenges from subsequent floods and landslides. These secondary disasters have damaged newly built infrastructure, including access routes to Bireuen in Aceh.

In Aceh, the Satgas PRR recently inspected three damaged bridge locations in the Samarkilang area of Bener Meriah Regency—specifically in Gerpa, Payung, and Lame—to restore transportation links essential for agricultural mobility. Funding has been secured for the Lame Bridge, while coordination continues for the remaining two sites. The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and National Police (Polri) are also actively supporting the construction of bridges, sanitation facilities, and clean water sources.