Minister of Disaster Management Requests Housing Locations for Survivors of the Sumatra Disaster Near Fasum

JAKARTA - Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning (PKP), Maruarar Sirait, asked that the permanent residence (huntap) location for survivors of the Sumatra disaster should not be far from public facilities (fasum).

"Please prepare locations for hunting, technically not flooded, safe from potential landslides, and not far from public facilities and clearly legal. Do not locations that damage the environment," said Maruarar or Ara in his statement in Jakarta, Friday, December 26, 2025.

He added that everything depends on the speed of the Regional Government as well as for the construction of housing through this mutual aid.

"Thank you all for agreeing to meet to help our people even though it's still Christmas," he said.

Ara chaired a meeting to build 2,600 permanent homes for people affected by disasters in Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra from a joint effort with the Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation as a tangible manifestation of the state's presence for the people.

North Tapanuli Regency can be an example of accelerating the integrated post-disaster handling. On March 21, 2026, the house certificate will be handed directly to the community.

"North Tapanuli can be an example. The building is completed, the electricity is completed, and the certificate is also completed. In the future, I hope that South Tapanuli, Sibolga, and other Tapanuli regions also have certificates for the people," said Ara as quoted by Antara.

He appointed three Directors General to go directly to the field to complete the process of allocating housing in disaster-affected areas.

Director General of Rural Housing Imran was assigned to handle the Aceh Tamiang and North Aceh areas, Director General of the Fitrah Nur Settlement Area was assigned in West Sumatra, while Director General of Governance and Risk Management Azis Andriansyah was assigned in North Sumatra.

Ara also expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation for being willing to carry out mutual cooperation in the construction of permanent housing, as well as all levels, the Regional Government, and the relevant Ministries/Institutions that have taken the time, energy, and thoughts for the benefit of the people, including on religious holidays.