JAKARTA - Deputy Chairman of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Alex Indra Lukman, suggested that the government form a special body to deal with the impact of the Sumatran hydrometeorological disaster. Alex assessed that this special body is needed considering the various types of damage caused by flash floods that hit 52 regencies/cities in three provinces in Sumatra, namely Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra.
"We have experience in dealing with the impact of the 2024 Aceh-Nias tsunami. We also have experience dealing with earthquakes, liquefaction, floods or landslides. However, floods and landslides accompanied by massive environmental damage, we have never experienced it. Therefore, the presence of this special body is very necessary," said Alex in his statement, Saturday, January 3.
The suggestion was also conveyed by Alex in response to President Prabowo's approval of the establishment of the Kuala Task Force (Satgas) on the proposal of Defense Minister (Menhan) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin at a limited meeting at the temporary residence built by Danantara in Aceh Tamiang Regency, Aceh Province, Thursday, January 1.
According to Alex, the task force, which will focus on dredging rivers that have been silted due to mud deposits in disaster-affected areas, as well as processing muddy water into clean water, is worthy of being upgraded to a special body.
"We assess that this Task Force deserves to be upgraded to a special body. So, its task is not just to dredge the river, but to handle the impact of disasters more comprehensively and eliminate technical obstacles related to authority," said Alex.
"In addition, this disaster also has the potential to last longer in line with the BMKG's forecast, which released that heavy rainfall will still occur until March 2025," he continued.
Alex assessed that with the special body, funding in the rehabilitation and reconstruction period after the Sumatra flood would no longer be in many ministries and institutions.
"For the special agency budget, just coordinate it with the ministry or agency. That is, we don't need to change the APBN Law, because it will put the budget on one special agency," said Alex.
In addition, the PDIP legislator from the West Sumatra District said that this special agency also provides certainty to the local government, especially disaster survivors, that the state is indeed present directly and planned in overcoming the impact of this flood.
"The BRR Aceh-Nias is recognized by the world for its effective leadership, transparent management without corruption (zero corruption). We hope that the same thing will happen again in handling the floods in Sumatra," said Alex while citing the case of corruption of disaster funds at the Social and Community Empowerment Office (PMD) Samosir, North Sumatra.
Alex added that the Aceh-Nias BRR model has also recorded its own achievements, namely being able to accelerate the development of infrastructure and human resources.
"Even ending the Aceh conflict with GAM, leaving a legacy of a disaster management system that other countries can adopt, such as China and Vietnam," he concluded.
As is known, the Sumatra flood and landslide disaster has destroyed various public facilities. In total, 3,188 educational facilities, 803 houses of worship, 215 health facilities, 81 roads, and 34 bridges were affected by floods and landslides in various regions.
If detailed by province, Aceh again became the region with the largest level of damage to public facilities. In this province, there are 1,312 educational facilities, 631 houses of worship, 141 health facilities, 17 bridges, and 38 roads that are affected by floods and landslides.
In West Sumatra, damage to facilities includes 659 educational facilities, 150 houses of worship, 7 health facilities, 13 bridges, and 31 roads.
Meanwhile, in North Sumatra, 659 educational facilities, 22 houses of worship, 67 health facilities, 4 bridges, and 12 roads were reported to be affected by the flood.
As of Friday, January 2, the number of fatalities due to the disaster was 1,157. Of that number, the number of fatalities in Aceh was recorded at 530, North Sumatra 365, and West Sumatra 262.
The number of missing victims is 165 people. The most missing victims are in West Sumatra, namely 72 people, North Sumatra 60 people and Aceh 31 people. Meanwhile, the number of refugees is 380,287 people, with the largest number in Aceh, namely 356,658 people.
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