Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto affirmed that the government provided adequate relief to northern Sumatra provinces affected by flooding and landslides, even without declaring a "national disaster" emergency status.

During a limited meeting on the development of 600 houses in Aceh Tamiang District, Aceh, on Thursday, the president explained that the government is capable of carrying out disaster operations in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

"Some still question why we did not declare a national disaster status ... the disaster affected three provinces, and we have 35 others that remain safe," he said, as broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat's official YouTube.

"As the government can mitigate the disaster in the three provinces, I do not see a national disaster emergency status as necessary," Prabowo stated.

The president said that the government is fully committed to providing disaster relief, and many cabinet ministers were deployed to monitor relief progress in affected provinces.

"Some 10 ministers are currently in Aceh, while other ministers are in other places," he noted.

Prabowo assured the people that the government is exerting its fullest effort to provide assistance to disaster victims and provide adequate funds from the state budget.

The president is currently in Aceh to inspect the structure and facilities of a housing complex developed by Danantara Indonesia sovereign wealth fund, known as Rumah Hunian Danantara, in Kebun Tj Seumantoh, Karang Baru, Aceh Tamiang, Aceh.

The housing complex has been developed since December 24, 2025, to accommodate residents affected by the landslide and flash floods in the region in late November last year.

Danantara has been tasked with coordinating state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in developing the complex, which is equipped with WiFi and electricity networks and includes children’s playgrounds, communal kitchens, toilets, and drainage systems.

Rosan Roeslani, Danantara CEO, reported to President Prabowo that hundreds of temporary housing units already built by his company will be handed over to local authorities to shelter disaster victims until they move into permanent residences.

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Translator: Maria Cicilia Galuh P, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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