Massive flooding and landslides across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra since November 2025 have created a devastating humanitarian crisis. More than 794,000 residents have been displaced, 916 people have died, and over 105,900 homes have been damaged. As emergency shelters overflow and access to remote areas remains challenging, the Indonesian government is taking urgent steps including by reassessing land availability to accelerate recovery and provide stable housing for affected communities.
In response, President Prabowo Subianto announced that the central government is prepared to temporarily revoke problematic land use (HGU) land-use permits if necessary to free up land for temporary and permanent housing.
“This must involve coordination among district, provincial, and central governments, including all ministries — especially Forestry, and Land and Spatial Planning (ATR/BPN). If necessary, HGUs can be temporarily revoked or reduced. This is for the people — it is more important. Land must be made available,” Prabowo said in the flood response meeting, as quoted by Bisnis.
Prabowo emphasized the urgency of providing locations for temporary shelters (huntara), urging ministries and local governments to audit land-use data and identify plots that can be immediately used. He also encouraged the use of pre-fabricated construction to reduce costs and accelerate building.
During a discussion on permanent housing, Prabowo questioned whether the existing allocation of USD 3,750 per house remains realistic amid rising material prices. Indonesia’s Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Chief Suharyanto acknowledged the budget is already minimal but still workable, though residents may add personal funds to improve their homes. He stressed that government assistance should not be provided in cash to prevent misuse. Prabowo responded by asking ministries to recalculate housing budgets with inflation taken into account.
Local Land Availability Still the Main Obstacle
BNPB Chief Suharyanto also explained that the biggest challenge in building temporary housing is the slow preparation of land by local governments.
“Local governments must prepare the land. The central government will build it, Mr. President. But land availability is often what delays construction,” he said.
He presented a 36-square-meter temporary shelter model measuring 8×5 meters, costing around USD 1,875 per unit and equipped with an indoor bathroom—far more dignified than the tents currently used by evacuees.
Although designed for a maximum of one year, Suharyanto noted that families sometimes remain longer due to delays in preparing permanent housing sites. When land is insufficient, BNPB will deploy barrack-style shelters to accommodate larger groups.
Based on past experience relocating 8,000 households near Mount Lewotobi, he said such shelters can be built within six months, or faster with support from the Indonesian Armed Forces and National Police (TNI–Polri) task forces.
Government Assistance Reaches USD 4.17 Million
Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul) reported that the government has allocated USD 4.17 million in assistance for flood survivors across the three provinces, Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
Deploying 39 public kitchens capable of producing 417,749 meals per day. A total of 648 Tagana personnel have been mobilized to manage evacuations, distribute supplies, and coordinate shelter operations. The government has also delivered 101.4 tons of essential aid, including rice, ready-to-eat meals, children’s food packages, mattresses, blankets, family kits, emergency tents, and portable water purifiers.
Aceh remains the worst-affected region, with more than 747,000 evacuees, followed by North Sumatra and West Sumatra. Efforts to open access to isolated areas continue through land, sea, and air operations, ensuring essential supplies reach communities still cut off by the disaster.
Source: Bisnis, CNBC Indonesia
Photo Credit: via Antara
