200 Huntap Needed in Gunungsitoli and Sibolga After the Recent Floods in Sumatra

The local government reported the need for the construction of 200 permanent housing units (huntap) in Gunungsitoli and Sibolga after the Sumatra/DOK flood of the Ministry of PU. 

JAKARTA - Local governments (local governments) in areas affected by flash floods and landslides, North Sumatra (Sumut), reported the need for the construction of about 200 units of permanent housing (huntap) in Gunungsitoli and Sibolga City.

The need was conveyed during the working visit of the Minister of Public Works (PU) Dody Hanggodo to North Sumatra, Friday, January 23.

The visit was carried out to ensure that the handling of the impact of the disaster was fast, coordinated, and targeted.

During the review, Dody also held a coordination meeting (rakor) with the Regent of Central Tapanuli Masinton Pasaribu and a number of affected regional heads.

The discussion focused on river conditions, road and bridge infrastructure, clean water supply systems, affected residential areas, heavy equipment needs, and access to agricultural production centers.

Dody said that disaster management in the Tapanuli area requires an intensive and massive approach, because the area affected by the area and the geographical conditions are quite challenging.

"We are ready to fully support, official data and proposals are very important so that the handling can be quick and appropriate. We will continue to be present with the region during this recovery period," said Dody as quoted from a written statement, Saturday, January 24.

One of the urgent needs highlighted is the limited heavy equipment in Central Tapanuli Regency.

According to Dody, the acceleration of emergency handling depends heavily on equipment support, especially for river sediment dredging and bank reinforcement work that cannot be done manually.

Meanwhile, the Regent of Central Tapanuli Masinton Pasaribu explained that handling flash floods and landslides had been carried out since President Prabowo Subianto's visit. However, the extent of the affected area and the condition of the area is long, which is a challenge in accelerating recovery.

The local government has also rented 22 units of heavy equipment, but the number is still considered insufficient, especially for river normalization, sediment handling, and embankment construction, to prevent subsequent landslides during rain.

In addition, the issue of clean water is still a serious concern because the quality of the IKK Drinking Water Supply System (SPAM) has declined.

Based on the Ministry of PU's records, there are other urgent needs in the region, such as housing construction, drilling well provision, restoration of agricultural irrigation access for horticultural communities, and improvement of strategic road access.

One of the sections that is of concern is the Tarutung-Sibolga Road, the only main road that is currently being handled by the North Sumatra National Road Implementation Agency (BBPJN).

In the Gunungsitoli and Sibolga areas, in addition to the need for hunting, the local government reported the need for rock reinforcement, handling of nine landslide points, repair of potholes to the airport as well as public facilities and street lighting.

Handling roads with heavy traffic, including LPG carrier vehicle lanes, is also a concern.

The PU Ministry ensures that it will continue to support areas affected by flash floods and landslides, including the cleaning of public facilities such as educational facilities so that people's activities can gradually recover.