SUMATERA — Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto reiterated the government’s strong commitment to ensuring effective, swift, and accountable flood and landslide management in Sumatra.
Since early January 2026, the President has actively overseen the entire recovery process in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, emphasizing concrete action and strict oversight of every policy implemented.
In his directives, the President prioritized the restoration of infrastructure and basic services.
The government instructed relevant ministries to immediately reopen schools and community health centers (Puskesmas) to ensure uninterrupted education and public health services.
The President also requested that all levels of government work non-stop to accelerate the normalization of life for affected residents.
Housing development is the next focus.
The government is targeting the construction of 15,000 housing units for affected residents, with initial progress on 500 units expected to be completed soon.
The President also promised housing replacement assistance for those displaced by the disaster.
President Prabowo emphasized the importance of accountability in disaster budget management.
Strict oversight is being implemented to prevent irregularities and ensure all aid is distributed transparently.
The President’s presence at the disaster site, including spending New Year’s Eve with refugees in South Tapanuli and visiting Aceh Tamiang, reinforced the government’s commitment.
In a coordination meeting in Aceh Tamiang, the President explained his leadership approach, which prioritizes concrete evidence over rhetoric.
“One of the obligations of a leader is to be prepared to be criticized, prepared to be slandered, prepared to be accused… but we must not be swayed, we must not be discouraged,” Prabowo said.
“I believe in evidence; evidence-based is my way of working,” he added.
The President also emphasized the government’s openness to public assistance.
“We are not rejecting aid; it’s just that the mechanisms and procedures must be clear, and it must be sincere,” Prabowo said.
Long-term mitigation efforts are also being strengthened through the river normalization plan.
Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin outlined the strategy for dredging shallow rivers.
“This is a major effort that we must undertake,” he said.
“We will normalize those estuaries,” the President firmly welcomed the move.
Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian emphasized the effectiveness of using dredging equipment.
“Come on! Let’s just carry out a major operation. This is a big…big engineering operation,” the President asserted.
The government ensured that all these steps would be implemented without hindering funding to alleviate the suffering of the affected communities.
