Sumatra Floods Deepen Humanitarian Strain as Death Toll Nears 1,000, Schools Damaged and Housing Recovery Accelerates

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Sumatra’s multi-province floods continue to inflict severe humanitarian, social, and infrastructure damage, with the government’s latest update showing 967 deaths, 262 people missing, and more than 5,000 injured across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra as of December 10. More than 158,000 houses have been damaged and 52 regencies and cities remain under disaster emergency status, highlighting the extensive scale of destruction across the island.

The education sector has emerged as one of the worst-hit areas. 2,798 schools were damaged, 5,421 classrooms became unusable, and more than 600,000 students experienced severe interruptions to learning services. The Chair of the House of Representatives’ Commission X, Hetifah Sjaifudian, urged the central government to accelerate the restoration of education services, warning that prolonged disruption could jeopardize long-term human capital development.

“Thousands of schools are damaged and hundreds of thousands of students are affected. The state cannot allow children to stop learning just because the response is slow. Recovery must be accelerated and focused on the most urgent needs,” Hetifah said. She also called for additional budget allocations in the 2026 State Budget and emphasized the need for stronger legal certainty. “We need regulations that guarantee that under any circumstances, education continues. This is not optional — it is the state’s obligation,” she said.

Education Minister Abdul Mu’ti reported that many schools remain inaccessible because bridges have collapsed and roads are blocked, while others are being used as evacuation shelters. Hetifah stressed that all ministerial agencies and local governments must prioritize the reopening of schools. “What matters most now is restoring school operations, protecting the children, and ensuring they can return to learning as soon as possible,” she said.

On the housing front, efforts are gaining momentum. Minister of Housing and Settlements Maruarar Sirait (Ara) revealed that private-sector companies participating through corporate social responsibility programs have committed to building 2,000 homes for families affected by the floods and landslides. “Several CSR programs have committed to helping construct 2,000 houses for our brothers and sisters in Sumatra,” Ara said following a recent visit to Aceh.

The housing agenda also received support from the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency. Minister Nusron Wahid stated that the government is prepared to revoke right-to-cultivate land title (HGU) if required to provide relocation land for displaced residents. “If communities need permanent housing and there is no available land, we will request land currently held under HGU in those cities. We will provide it — that will not be a problem,” Nusron said.

President Prabowo Subianto instructed relevant ministries and regional governments to coordinate closely with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) to accelerate land procurement and relocation planning. Nusron acknowledged that surveys for relocation sites across the 52 affected regencies have not yet begun but assured that the process would start soon: “God willing, as soon as possible.”

Evacuation figures remain high, with 252,600 evacuees in Aceh Tamiang, 238,500 in Aceh Timur, 166,900 in Aceh Utara, 18,300 in Tapanuli Tengah, and 5,600 in Tanah Datar. Local governments continue to face logistical challenges stemming from damaged roads, power outages, and debris-blocked routes. Regional public-works teams are clearing access roads and restoring basic connectivity as the floods left behind widespread damage to 498 bridges, 584 education facilities, 215 health centers, 287 government buildings, and 1,222 public facilities.

As recovery operations expand, political leaders are urging rapid disbursement of funds, clear coordination, and strong oversight to prevent misallocation of rebuilding resources. “What is at stake is the future of the children. Recovery must be swift and centered on the needs of the affected communities,” Hetifah said.