Cabinet Secretary Highlights Progress in Post-Disaster Recovery in Sumatra

Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya delivers an update on progress in post-disaster recovery and post-disaster strategic plan in the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra during a press conference at the Integrated Command Post at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta, Monday (12/29). Photo by: The BPMI of Presidential Secretariat.

The Government has unveiled progress in post-disaster recovery and post-disaster strategic plan in the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya on Monday (12/29) delivered a statement regarding the latest development during the first month of disaster response in the three provinces, particularly in the national road infrastructure sector.

The disaster affected three provinces and fifty-two regencies. Seventy-eight national roads were cut off. After one month, out of the seventy-eight national roads, only six are still in the process of being restored, namely four in Aceh and the remaining two in West Sumatra and North Sumatra,” he said.

According to the Cabinet Secretary, 12 bridges have been repaired, including those spanning major rivers, with widths of more than 50 meters, with one bridge in Bireuen reaching 180 meters.

He stated that bridges are pivotal to reconnect logistics line, connecting regencies and provinces. In the housing sector, the Government is accelerating the construction of housing for affected residents within a short time-frame. Large-scale housing development is also being prepared through cross-ministerial and inter-agency coordination, he added.

“Within this one month, in the coming week, 600 housing units will be completed. God willing, they will be ready next week. The National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) will build 450 housing units. The President has also instructed Danantara CEO to build 15,000 housing units as swiftly as possible,” he said.

In the health sector, Cabinet Secretary stated that hospital services have fully resumed after previously being out of service. The recovery of basic health services has progressed rapidly due to cooperation of various stakeholders.

“As many as 87 hospitals were affected, all of which were out of service. Within one month, all 87 hospitals are now ready to serve patients. Some are not yet fully repaired, but all of them can receive and treat patients. There were also 867 community health centers that were out of service. After one month, only eight have not yet resumed operations,” he explained.

Cabinet Secretary further said that the education and economic sectors have begun to recover in the affected areas.

“Markets have also started to operate again. The economy is gradually beginning to recover,” he said.

According to the Cabinet Secretary, the speed of post-disaster recovery is inseparable from the directives issued by President Prabowo Subianto since the early stages of the emergency response. The success of the first month of recovery was also driven by the collective spirit of all stakeholders on the ground.

“From the beginning, the President instructed all stakeholders to take measures as swiftly as possible. These are the results. Why was this possible? Because all stakeholders and community members truly worked together on the ground, helping one another, working hand in hand, and practicing mutual cooperation. All stakeholders, community members, and volunteers worked in unity,” he said.

The first month of recovery serves as an important foundation for the medium and long-term reconstruction stage. The Government reaffirmed that follow-up measures will continue to be implemented, ensuring affected communities to recover and rebuild. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (RI/MUR)