Gibran Calls for Stronger Coordination to Speed Up Post-Cyclone Senyar Recovery

RRI.CO.ID, Sibolga – Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming, called for stronger collaboration between the central and regional governments to accelerate recovery efforts following Cyclone Senyar in North Sumatra in late 2025. He made the call while inspecting conditions in affected areas and meeting residents in the city of Sibolga, as well as the regencies of Central and South Tapanuli, on Friday, September 4, 2026.

During the visit, Vice President Gibran urged members of the local leadership coordination forum – which consists of local government, military, police, and prosecution officers – to ensure that locals’ needs and challenges were addressed directly on the ground. He said regional officials were at the forefront of implementing recovery efforts.

"Go directly into the field, check what is still lacking, and check on locals' conditions," the Vice President said, according to a statement from the Indonesian Vice Presidential Secretariat on Friday.

The secretariat said Gibran issued the directive to ensure that various challenges faced during the transition period could be identified and addressed promptly. These needs include necessities and housing, access to and delivery of public services, as well as the restoration of residents’ activities and livelihoods.

He also urged regional authorities not to leave residents waiting too long when they encounter difficulties during the recovery process. He said every issue should be identified promptly and coordinated with the central government to find solutions.

"Do not let people wait too long. If there are problems in the field, identify them immediately and collaborate to find solutions. There should be no bureaucratic barriers," he said.

"Every issue must have a clear party responsible for handling it and a clear completion target. Do not wait until it goes viral," he said.

The Secretariat said Gibran emphasized that post-disaster recovery should not focus solely on rebuilding damaged infrastructure, but also on ensuring that residents can safely, productively, and independently resume their lives.

By strengthening collaboration between the central and regional governments, he hopes that recovery efforts in North Sumatra would proceed optimally and that residents’ needs would be met, allowing communities to recover and rebuild their lives as soon as possible.