Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries: Sumatra is a National Priority, Roads are Repaired and Huntara-Huntap are Built

Left to right: Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno and Minister of Law and Human Rights Prasetyo Hadi. (Kris - Presidential Secretariat Press Office)

JAKARTA - The government has designated Sumatra as a national priority in post-cyclone recovery. Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno emphasized that all state resources were deployed to accelerate the recovery of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

"The government together with the Indonesian people is working hard to restore the situation to be much better," said Pratikno when reporting on the Progress of Disaster Management in Sumatra, the Integrated Post at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta, Friday, December 19.

He said the impact of the disaster was different in every region, from heavy to quite heavy. Although there are still areas with worrying conditions, significant progress has been made through joint work across ministries, institutions, and communities.

In the transportation sector, the majority of national and provincial roads are connected again, although some are still operating limited. In Aceh, the Lhokseumawe-Langsa, Langsa-Kuala Simpang, Kuala Simpang-North Sumatra border, Bener Meriah-Takengon, South Aceh-Gayo Lues, and Banda Aceh-Central Aceh via Blangkejeren routes can be passed.

"Further improvements will be made to improve traffic flow," said Pratikno.

In North Sumatra, the connectivity of Padang Sidempuan, South Tapanuli, Mandailing Natal, and Central Tapanuli has largely recovered. However, there are still landslides, road subsidence, and the use of emergency bridges that require vigilance. Cleaning is carried out with heavy equipment and bailey bridges.

Meanwhile, in West Sumatra, the repair of the Padang-Bukittinggi national road via Lembah Anai has reached about 90 percent. The Padang Pariaman-Agam route via Malalak is mostly accessible.

For basic services, Pratikno said electricity and communications were gradually recovering. "In remote areas, we still rely on Starlink, HT radio, and satellite phones," he said. Clean water supply is back in service in West Sumatra and North Sumatra, while in Aceh, emergency facilities are still being assisted due to network damage.

The supply of fuel and gas is considered stable, although distribution in some areas is still hampered. The government has also deployed logistics planes and helicopters.

Regarding housing, Pratikno said that temporary housing (Huntara) and permanent housing (Huntap) had begun to be built. "Lhokseumawe was immediately designated to the Huntap scheme. Pidie has built Huntara, Sibolga has started Huntap, and in West Sumatra, Huntara construction is underway in South Coast, Padang Pariaman, and Agam," he said.

Pratikno said that all these efforts were carried out so that the affected people could recover immediately, return to their activities, and rise stronger.