By: Innayah Putri )*
 
President Prabowo Subianto emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring comprehensive and sustainable environmental and community recovery in the North Sumatra region affected by floods, flash floods, and landslides. Since the onset of the hydrometeorological disaster triggered by Cyclone Senyar, the President has actively monitored the progress of the response on the ground and ensured that all elements of the state are working in a coordinated manner. The government views post-disaster recovery as not merely an effort to address the immediate impacts, but rather a strategic process to rebuild the community’s environmental and social resilience.
 
During a visit to the evacuation site at MAN 1 Tanjungpura, Langkat Regency, the President assessed that the handling of affected residents had shown improvement compared to the situation during his previous visit. The central government, along with local governments, was deemed successful in improving evacuation management, ensuring the availability of logistics, and maintaining security and basic services for the community. The President ensured that monitoring would continue periodically to ensure any emerging challenges could be promptly addressed.  
The recovery directed by the President focuses not only on emergency needs but also includes repairing damaged infrastructure, restoring access to clean water and sanitation, and providing psychological support for affected residents, especially children and vulnerable groups. The government believes that environmental and social recovery must go hand in hand, as both influence each other in rebuilding the quality of life for communities after a disaster.
 
According to local government data, the hydrometeorological disaster impacted 18 regencies and cities in North Sumatra, with Langkat Regency being one of the most severely affected areas. Damage to embankments in several areas caused widespread flooding, inundating residential areas. In response, the central government deployed the Ministry of Public Works and Spatial Planning to expedite repairs to embankments and flood control infrastructure. The President ensured that all state resources, including the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Indonesian National Police (Polri), would be deployed to support the acceleration of physical and environmental recovery.
 
The President also emphasized that the deployment of personnel was not only aimed at maintaining security, but also at accelerating development, aid distribution, and reaching areas difficult to access due to infrastructure damage. The government is working to ensure that no one is isolated or neglected during the recovery process.
Minister of Home Affairs, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, who accompanied the President on the inspection, emphasized the importance of solidarity among local governments in facing large-scale disasters. He noted that not all affected regions have adequate budgetary capacity, making cross-regional support a crucial element in successful disaster management. The central government, he stated, continues to encourage coordination and mutual cooperation between regions so that community needs can be met equitably and sustainably.
The Minister of Home Affairs also highlighted the high level of basic needs of affected communities that are often overlooked, such as adequate clothing, women’s supplies, and the needs of infants and children. The government noted that meeting these needs is a crucial part of social recovery, as it directly relates to the dignity, health, and comfort of residents during the evacuation period.
The government’s post-disaster recovery efforts are also strengthened by the participation of the private sector and humanitarian organizations. Sun Life Indonesia, in collaboration with Save the Children, distributed humanitarian assistance to support the emergency response and recovery in Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra. The assistance focused on providing access to clean water, logistics distribution, and transportation support to areas still isolated due to disrupted roads, electricity, and communications.
Save the Children Indonesia Chief Executive Officer, Dessy Kurniwary Ukar, assessed that this support had a significant impact, especially in the initial phase of the disaster response when basic needs and access were the greatest challenges. She explained that the geographic conditions and damaged infrastructure required additional support to ensure aid could reach displaced families and provide basic necessities quickly and safely. Collaboration with the private sector is seen as strengthening the capacity of humanitarian organizations to work in line with the government’s recovery strategy for affected communities.
The government views cross-sector collaboration as a crucial part of the national recovery strategy. Synergy between the central government, local governments, security forces, humanitarian agencies, and the private sector is crucial.is considered capable of accelerating the recovery process while strengthening community and environmental resilience.
With a planned, coordinated, and sustainability-oriented approach, President Prabowo’s instructions for environmental recovery in disaster-affected areas reflect responsive and responsible leadership, as well as the state’s commitment to ensuring communities can recover and rebuild their lives stronger going forward.
)* The author is a social observer