Post-Flood Recovery in Sumatra Hits RM12.8 Billion, Death Toll Rises to 900

JAKARTA, El Sky News – Recovery and reconstruction efforts following the devastating floods that have ravaged Sumatra Island since late November are expected to incur massive costs, with the estimated required funding reaching 51.82 trillion rupiah (approximately RM12.8 billion).

This figure was disclosed by the Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), as the flood crisis continues to claim lives, with the official death toll now exceeding 900 people. Furthermore, 274 individuals are reported still missing, complicating search and rescue operations in remote areas.

The Head of BNPB, Suharyanto, stated that the critical funding is urgently needed for the worst-affected regions, namely Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. These areas are now grappling with a surge in fatalities, primarily due to the difficulty of aid reaching inland locations.

Funding Needs by Region

According to Suharyanto, the funding requirements for each region are as follows:

• Aceh: Requires the highest fund amount at 25.41 trillion rupiah (RM6.27 billion).
• West Sumatra: Requires 13.52 trillion rupiah (RM3.34 billion).
• North Sumatra: Requires 12.88 trillion rupiah (RM3.18 billion).

“A more in-depth assessment is being conducted to measure the actual extent of infrastructure damage. However, the reconstruction process will commence in stages in several key locations such as Medan and Padang,” he explained.

Suharyanto added that residents who have lost their homes will be temporarily housed in temporary shelters measuring 40 square meters. The subsequent resettlement phase will see flood victims moved to permanent residences built under the supervision of the Indonesian Ministry of Housing.

The floods, caused by extraordinary heavy rainfall, are considered among the worst to hit the region in a decade, demanding immediate action and significant financial allocations to ensure residents’ lives can be restored as quickly as possible.

(Leakim Otid)