Kemenag Maps the Needs of Worship for Residents Affected by the Sumatra Disaster to Celebrate Ramadan 2026

JAKARTA - The Directorate General of Islamic Guidance of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) is moving to restore religious services in a number of disaster-affected areas in Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra to ensure that people's right to worship is still fulfilled in welcoming Ramadan.

Director General of Islamic Bimas Abu Rokhmad said that post-disaster handling not only targeted the physical aspect, but also the spiritual. According to him, the continuity of religious services is part of the basic services that must be maintained in the midst of an emergency situation.

"Post-disaster handling must touch both the physical and spiritual aspects simultaneously. Mosques, KUA, madrasahs, and other religious spaces need to be restored immediately so that they continue to function as a service center for the community, especially ahead of Ramadan. Religious services must not be stopped," said Abu Rokhmad in his statement in Jakarta, Wednesday, quoted by Antara.

In Aceh, Abu Rokhmad reviewed a number of humanitarian posts, mosques, Religious Affairs Offices (KUA), and madrasahs in Pidie Jaya Regency, Bireuen, to North Aceh.

During the visit, he held a dialogue with residents, religious advisors, community leaders, and volunteers to map out urgent needs and ensure that assistance is targeted.

According to Abu, the Ministry of Religion does not work alone. The recovery of religious services is carried out through collaboration with the National Zakat Agency (Baznas), zakat amil (LAZ) institutions, community elements, and universities.

This collaboration allows for quick and sustainable interventions, ranging from the provision of public kitchens, clean water, emergency latrines, to places of worship.

In Pidie Jaya, the Ministry of Religion reviewed the Baznas post which provided clean water and emergency toilets, as well as houses that were affected by the flood. In other locations, the Ministry of Religion together with LAZ ASAR supported a communal kitchen that served hundreds of families, community get-togethers, and cleaning the mosque with the support of heavy equipment.

Aid for prayer tools, the Quran, mukena, and sarung is also distributed according to the needs of the field. In the religious education sector, Abu ensures that the learning process continues.

The review was carried out at MIN 4 Pidie Jaya which had been renovated by LAZ, including support for the provision of temporary madrasahs so that educational activities would not be halted.

"Madrasahs must remain a safe space and hope for children," he said.

Meanwhile, in Bireuen Regency, the Ministry of Religion reviewed public kitchens that served dozens to hundreds of families, the distribution of rice, and the provision of clean water through boreholes. Abu assessed that mosques and meunasah played a strategic role as a social-religious service node as well as a center for psychosocial recovery of the community.

In addition, religious guidance and psychological support are also a concern. In a number of locations, lectures, distribution of the Quran and Iqra, and trauma healing activities involving volunteers and stakeholders of zakat and waqf are carried out.

Supporting facilities such as water tanks, drinking water filters, and sound devices are also prepared to support worship activities.

"The role of the KUA is of special concern. We ensure that the services of marriage registration, religious consultation, zakat, wakaf, to social mediation continue to run. The KUA is the front line of religious services at the grassroots level, especially when the community faces a crisis," he said.