Disaster Displacement in Sumatra Drops Sharply

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta: The government says life is slowly stabilizing after devastating disasters across Sumatra. Many families are no longer living in emergency tents as recovery progresses. The update was delivered during the Coordination Meeting of the Sumatra Post-Disaster Recovery Task Force at the House of Representatives Building in Jakarta on Wednesday, 18 February 2026.

Minister of Home Affairs and Head of the Sumatra Post-Disaster Recovery Task Force, Tito Karnavian, shared encouraging progress in the recovery effort. He said fewer people now rely on temporary shelters across affected provinces. Communities are gradually returning to safer and more stable living conditions.

“For West Sumatra, the number of evacuees is now zero, down from 16,164. Some have returned home and received assistance for lightly and moderately damaged houses. Meanwhile, those whose homes were heavily damaged or lost are staying in temporary housing or receiving waiting funds for permanent housing.” he said.

The update reflects how thousands of families have begun rebuilding their daily routines. Many residents displaced by floods and landslides are now back home. Recovery programs helped accelerate their transition from emergency shelters.

Tito also highlighted progress in North Sumatra’s displacement situation. The number of evacuees dropped from 53,523 to 850 people today. All remaining evacuees are located in Central Tapanuli.

In Aceh, displacement has also declined significantly in recent months. The number of evacuees fell from 1.4 million to 12,144 people currently staying in tents. The largest remaining group is located in North Aceh, with 5,197 evacuees.

Tito said this progress reflects coordinated recovery work across government levels. Ministries and regional administrations continue to share data and streamline assistance. Their cooperation helps ensure aid reaches affected households efficiently.

He added that homes with minor damage receive financial assistance ranging from 15 to 30 million rupiah. Meanwhile, families with heavily damaged homes are offered several housing solutions. These include temporary shelters, rental housing support, or staying with relatives.

Tito explained that affected families may also receive housing assistance worth 1.8 million rupiah every three months. Permanent housing construction is being planned on survivors’ own land. New residential complexes are also under preparation as part of long-term recovery efforts.