“Our focus is now on emergency response. At the same time, we are starting to design the rehabilitation and reconstruction, including the preparation of temporary and permanent housing,” Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno said in a press statement on Monday.
The minister delivered these remarks during a coordination meeting on disaster response at Raja Sisingamangaraja XII Airport in North Tapanuli, North Sumatra, on Sunday, November 30.
He emphasized the government’s goal of completing the emergency phase swiftly to enable a rapid transition to recovery.
“That way, the community can recover immediately and resume their normal activities, as well as be more resilient in facing future disasters,” he explained.
Pratikno acknowledged that the government has faced challenges in managing the disaster, particularly in mobilizing heavy equipment to affected areas.
“We faced many hindrances, such as in the deployment of heavy equipment, which is not easy, but we will continuously work to overcome them,” he said.
He also expressed gratitude to volunteers and local responders who have been working tirelessly on the ground.
According to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), as of November 30, the death toll from floods and landslides across the three provinces had risen to 442, with 402 people still missing.
In response, provincial governments have declared emergency status: Aceh from November 28 to December 11, North Sumatra from November 27 to December 10, and West Sumatra from November 25 to December 8.
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Translator: Anita Permata, Raka Adji
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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