"The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) is preparing temporary housing, with the program already in place. Followed by plans for permanent housing, as part of the reconstruction and rehabilitation," he said here on Tuesday.
Currently, the government is prioritizing emergency response efforts in the three provinces, as victim searches continue and several areas remain isolated.
“When the emergency phase starts to ease, we will proceed with constructing temporary and permanent housing. For now, we are focused on evacuation and supplying essential logistics. After that, we will begin rehabilitation and reconstruction,” Yusuf continued.
The minister informed that the BNPB is calculating, planning, and conducting field mapping for residents in need of temporary shelter.
"We will involve the local government in the permanent housing construction. The region will provide the land, and the housing will be built in stages," he noted.
He also detailed obstacles that persist on the ground, mainly in evacuating residents trapped in areas inaccessible by land.
"Even the Mayor of Sibolga took two days to escape from a landslide, showing just how severe the challenges are. Yesterday, I accompanied the President to several sites, and conditions are now starting to improve," Yusuf remarked.
Furthermore, his office continues to assist flood-affected residents in three provinces: Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
As of Monday (December 1), the total value of buffer stock logistical assistance distributed by the ministry to the three provinces reached Rp14.5 billion (US$844 thousand).
The ministry is also mobilizing assistance services through public kitchens and independent kitchens, with a budget totaling approximately Rp4.5 billion (US$262 thousand).
These kitchens are open in several locations, with a capacity of serving approximately 30,000 meals per day in West Sumatra (Padang City, Padang Pariaman, Pasaman Barat, and Pesisir Selatan).
North Sumatra serves approximately 30,000 meals per day in 12 locations (Mandailing Natal, Langkat, and North Tapanuli); and Aceh serves approximately 28,000 meals per day in 7 locations (Subulussalam, Pidie Jaya, and surrounding areas).
According to data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the number of victims of the floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra has reached 631, with 472 reported missing. The number of injured stands at 2,600, with 1 million displaced.
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Translator: Lintang Budiyanti Prameswari, Resinta Sulistiyanda
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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