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View all search resultsConcerns over Sumatra recovery as Prabowo makes new year visit
During his fifth visit to the disaster-hit northern Sumatra provinces, President Prabowo Subianto reasserted his administration’s commitment to “return normalcy” to the region within three months, focusing on rebuilding bridges, houses and other public facilities.
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President Prabowo Subianto (center) speaks to Coordinating Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (left), State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Regulatory Agency head Dony Oskaria (second left) and state asset fund Danantara CEO Rosan Roeslani (second right) and Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf during an inspection on Jan. 1 of a temporary housing site for residents affected by floods and landslides in Aceh Tamiang regency, Aceh. (Courtesy of Presidential Secretariat/Rusman)
President Prabowo Subianto welcomed the new year by visiting disaster-hit northern Sumatra for the fifth time since the floods and landslides hit the region, a move met with questions on whether his promise to rehabilitate the region within three months can be delivered.
The President joined on Wednesday evacuees in a muted celebration at a temporary shelter in South Tapanuli regency, North Sumatra, where they watched films, sang national songs and watched traditional dances to await the midnight.
In his new year message to the people in the shelter, Prabowo said the government was coordinating to speed up rebuilding in disaster-stricken areas, including installing Bailey bridges to reconnect isolated areas and repairing damaged houses.
He added he felt optimistic the new year would bring meaningful recovery, as the number of isolated regions have decreased from more than 10 during the first week of the disasters to only five.
“We are committed to immediately rebuild houses, replace lost homes and assist those damaged,” Prabowo said as the night turned to Thursday. “Trust that your government, your leader and your state will never abandon you.”
As of Friday afternoon, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) recorded 178,479 houses damaged across the three provinces. More than 381,000 people were displaced in Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra.
