Aceh (ANTARA) - Minister of Housing and Settlements Maruarar Sirait stated that the housing relocation for flood- and landslide-affected residents in Sumatra will be accelerated in line with President Prabowo Subianto's directive.
"The President wants us to work quickly, so we must collaborate. I have already issued instructions to the Housing Offices in Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra," he said at an integrated disaster command post at Sultan Iskandar Muda Air Base, Aceh, on Sunday.
Sirait stated that the relocation sites for the disaster-affected residents will be situated in safe areas, ensuring they remain close to the community’s centers of activity.
Apart from that, his ministry is coordinating with state-owned cement producer Semen Indonesia to discuss rapid construction methods.
"We have summoned the CEO of Semen Indonesia. They have specific methods for building houses quickly," he remarked.
The government is also considering the use of Simple Healthy Instant House (RISHA) modular panels as a construction option that can be carried out quickly while still maintaining high safety standards.
He noted that the housing demand will be very great, given that the number of evacuees has reached hundreds of thousands.
Regarding the budget, he explained that President Prabowo Subianto had held a meeting with relevant ministries to address the funding needs.
Minister Sirait also expressed appreciation for the participation of the community and business players who have collaborated in providing assistance for disaster response in Sumatra.
Floods and landslides hit three provinces of Sumatra, namely Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, in late November 2025 following high-intensity rainfall.
According to data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), as of December 7, the death toll from the disasters had reached 921, while 392 people were still missing.
The disasters damaged at least 147 thousand houses in 52 affected regions
