RRI.CO.ID, Banda Aceh - More than 2,000 residents in Bener Meriah Regency, Aceh, remain in temporary shelters as local authorities race to complete transition housing before the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.

Following the devastating flash floods and landslides that swept through the Gayo highlands, the local administration is shifting its focus from emergency response to providing more stable living conditions for those who lost everything.

Ilham Abdi, the Head of the Bener Meriah Communication and Information Agency, confirmed on Thursday, January 22, 2026, that 2,116 individuals are still displaced across five of the regency’s ten subdistricts. The displaced population is currently concentrated in Timang Gajah with 1,166 refugees, followed by Pintu Rime Gayo with 431, Wih Pesam with 319, Mesidah with 116, and Gajah Putih with 84.

"Those who are still displaced are residents whose houses were swept away by floods or severely damaged by the disaster that hit the region," said Ilham Abdi, as quoted by Antara.

To address the housing crisis, the regional administration has accelerated the construction of 914 temporary housing units spread across 35 strategic locations in seven subdistricts. These units are designed to move families out of emergency tents and into more secure environments.

"Currently, the construction of temporary housing in Bener Meriah Regency continues to progress, and it is targeted that by the beginning of Ramadan, refugees will be able to occupy them," explained Ilham Abdi.

The reconstruction effort is a collaborative endeavor involving local, provincial, and central government, with a specific focus on restoring vital public infrastructure and schools. While construction is underway, the administration continues to prioritize the daily needs of the survivors.

"Logistics distribution also continues to be carried out, especially for residents displaced because their homes were damaged during the flash floods and landslides," the official added. ***