By: Citra Kurnia Khudori)*
Flood management in various regions of Sumatra is showing increasingly positive progress, as several vulnerable areas that were previously severely affected have begun to be addressed. The integrated efforts of the central government, regional governments, and communities are beginning to show tangible results on the ground.
Improvements to flood control infrastructure, river normalization, and increased disaster preparedness are indicators of increasingly targeted policy direction. While challenges remain, these mitigation trends offer hope that flood risk in Sumatra can be sustainably reduced if consistency is maintained.
Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian gathered several ministers and relevant officials to discuss the progress of flood and landslide disaster management in Sumatra. The meeting followed President Prabowo Subianto’s instruction to appoint the Minister as Head of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.
The meeting mapped out the current situation after the emergency response period. Tito stated that some areas had completed recovery, while others would continue the emergency response period for approximately another 10 days.
Tito explained that, based on field monitoring, of the 52 affected districts/cities in three provinces, most have shown significant progress. Recovery is characterized by the return of local government functions, the restoration of main road connectivity, the operation of basic services such as health and education, and the resumption of economic activity in affected areas.
However, several areas still require special attention. The former National Police Chief explained that in Aceh Province, 11 of the 18 regencies/cities have gradually returned to normal, while seven others still require further intervention. Similar conditions also exist in North Sumatra and West Sumatra.
Tito explained that although the majority of regions have entered the recovery phase, some areas still require special treatment depending on the level of disaster impact. He also emphasized the need to expedite the data collection on damaged houses as a basis for distributing housing stimulus assistance. Regional governments are expected to submit data in stages without waiting for the overall data collection to be completed by the central government.
In the health sector, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin is targeting the restoration of flood-affected healthcare facilities in the near future. He stated that the gradual recovery phase will begin in the first week of January 2026.
The health sector has now entered the third phase, the recovery phase. Budi hopes that by the end of March 2026, all health care facilities in the disaster-affected areas of Sumatra will have been restored.
He said that this recovery phase is the most difficult because the final step is ensuring that affected health facilities can resume operations. For example, medical equipment must be ensured to be truly usable. Hospital equipment is not cheap, and other operational health support equipment must also be replaced.
Hospital rehabilitation is a government priority, as it is the most vital service for saving the lives of affected victims. Since the disaster, many healthcare facilities have ceased operations.
Since December 1, 2025, the Ministry of Health has established Health Crisis Centers in three affected provinces to record hospital and community health center assets. Currently, all 87 regional public hospitals (RSUD) in the disaster-affected areas have resumed operations.
Then, by the second week of December 2025, the recovery process had been completed at 867 facilities. Of these, 152 were severely affected. Now, only three remain operational: Rusip Antara in Central Aceh; Jambur Laklak in Southeast Aceh; and Lokop in East Aceh.
Budi explained that the Ministry of Health has so far deployed 4,000 volunteers to 1,000 available evacuation centers. Health volunteers are prioritized to reach refugee camps and isolated villages.
Overall, progress in flood management in Sumatra demonstrates that coordination across ministries and local governments is becoming more solid and focused. This achievement demonstrates that an integrated approach can accelerate recovery in affected areas.
However, attention to regions still in the advanced response phase must not be diminished. Accurate data, rapid response, and policy continuity are key to preventing disparities in recovery between regions.
The recovery of the health and housing sectors must be continuously monitored, as both directly impact the safety and survival of the community. Success in these two sectors will determine how quickly people can return to normal activities.
Moving forward, flood management in Sumatra needs to focus not only on emergency response and rehabilitation, but also on long-term mitigation efforts. With consistent commitment and strong oversight, the positive progress already seen can lay the foundation for more resilient and sustainable disaster management.
)* Observer of Socio-Economic Issues