RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, significant progress has been reported in the recovery of religious and educational facilities in disaster-affected areas. Speaking in Jakarta on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar revealed that the majority of houses of worship, madrasah and boarding schools (pesantren) have been restored and are ready for community use.

Current data shows substantial recovery, particularly in the religious sector, which is vital for the upcoming fasting month.

Houses of worship in affected regions-specifically Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra-have seen the fastest progress. Out of 1,593 affected units, 1,558 (approximately 98%) are now fully operational.

The religious education sector also shows a positive trend. Broadly across the three impacted provinces, 84% of madrasas have resumed operations, while 75% of Islamic boarding schools are now active.

For areas where permanent facilities are not yet ready, the government has implemented tactical solutions by constructing temporary prayer rooms (mushola). Additionally, students from damaged schools are being temporarily hosted at nearby unaffected institutions to ensure their education continues uninterrupted.

"God willing, we are using creative approaches to address these challenges," the Minister stated. "For boarding schools and madrasas, we have temporarily transferred some students to unaffected sites. For mosques, we are building emergency prayer spaces while simultaneously repairing the original structures."

With the restoration of most houses of worship and schools, residents in disaster-hit areas are expected to observe Ramadan with greater peace and solemnity in the provided facilities.