Sumatra Disaster Recovery: Rp38 Trillion Allocated Amidst Recurring Disasters

JAKARTA - The government has disbursed around Rp38 trillion to 25 ministries and agencies for post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction in Sumatra. However, recovery work is still facing after-floods in a number of areas, including areas that have previously been affected. Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian said that the funds had been allocated by President Prabowo Subianto and disbursed through the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry of Public Works was the largest recipient of allocations to repair damaged infrastructure. "I inform you, in this rehabilitation and reconstruction phase, Mr. President has allocated and the Minister of Finance has disbursed to 25 ministries and institutions as much as approximately Rp. 38 trillion. The largest is the PU Ministry," said Tito at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, Wednesday, September 23. The recovery budget is used to repair roads, bridges, buildings, and rivers. The government also builds sabo dams, which are structures that hold materials such as sand and rocks that are carried away by flood flows. Tito admitted that he had seen the construction of the sabo dam in Central Tapanuli, North Sumatra. In the education sector, the government has prepared repairs for 4,922 schools affected by disasters. The program is coordinated with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. The question is, the disaster happened again when a number of areas were still undergoing recovery. Tito said heavy rain was still pouring over Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. Flash floods hit East Aceh again in the previous week. Medan City was also hit by floods, while Solok Regency was again affected by flash floods. "This is a disaster in Sumatra that is not once and then finished. It will continue to be repaired. But we are still in the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase," he said. Weather conditions in Sumatra are also uneven. While the northern western region is still facing rain and flooding, Jambi, South Sumatra, and Riau are experiencing drought. Tito said the government continued to handle the follow-up disaster while carrying out the recovery program. However, he did not detail the allocation of Rp. 38 trillion for each ministry and agency as well as the schedule for completing the repair of thousands of schools. Source: VOI English