BNPB Moves 23 Sumatra Regions Into Emergency Transition as Recovery Phase Begins

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency said on Thursday, Jan 1, 2026 that 23 regencies and cities across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra had formally entered the emergency transition phase following deadly flash floods and landslides, marking a shift from rescue operations to early recovery and reconstruction. The move signals a nationwide pivot toward housing delivery, public facility restoration, and the normalization of basic services after weeks of emergency response.

BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari said the number of regions in transition rose from 22 the previous day. “For regencies and cities that have already shifted into the emergency transition phase, there are 23 regions. Yesterday it was 22, today it increased by one,” Abdul said during a briefing monitored via BNPB’s official YouTube channel.

BNPB also recorded a sharp rise in regions still processing decrees to adopt the transition status. “Previously there were three regions, now there are seven. One is in Aceh, five in North Sumatra, and one in West Sumatra,” Abdul said.

Abdul said the change in status reflected a change in operational focus. “At the earlier stage, the focus was search and rescue, logistics distribution, and restoring access to transportation, communication, and energy. Now we are entering the emergency transition phase,” he said.

He said the new phase would prioritize early recovery and reconstruction. “This includes debris clearing, then the construction of temporary housing, permanent housing, and the disbursement or payment of housing waiting funds,” Abdul said.

In Aceh, BNPB listed Aceh Tenggara, Aceh Selatan, Kota Subulussalam, Kota Langsa, Aceh Singkil, Kota Lhokseumawe, and Aceh Besar, with Aceh Besar still awaiting formal decree issuance. In North Sumatra, the regions included Langkat, Kota Sibolga, Mandailing Natal, Batubara, Kota Padang Sidempuan, Deli Serdang, Kota Medan, and Tapanuli Utara, while Pakpak Bharat, Tapanuli Tengah, Tapanuli Selatan, Humbang Hasundutan, and Nias Selatan were still processing decrees.

In West Sumatra, BNPB said the transition applied to Kota Padang Panjang, Lima Puluh Kota, Pasaman, Solok, Padang Pariaman, Kota Pariaman, Pesisir Selatan, Kota Padang, Pasaman Barat, and Tanah Datar, with Tanah Datar still completing administrative steps.

A situation snapshot as of Thursday, Jan 1, 2026 showed the disaster impact remained severe. Aceh recorded 18 affected regencies and cities, 530 deaths, 4,318 injured people, 31 missing persons, and 356,655 displaced residents.

North Sumatra recorded 18 affected regencies and cities, 365 deaths, 242 injured people, 60 missing persons, and 13,770 displaced residents. West Sumatra recorded 16 affected regencies and cities, 262 deaths, 382 injured people, 74 missing persons, and 9,935 displaced residents.

BNPB also confirmed that all national roads and bridges in Aceh were fully functional as of Thursday. “Previously we informed the target from the Public Works Ministry that all national roads and bridges in Aceh would be restored by December 30. Praise be to God, all those targets have been achieved,” Abdul said.

He said 12 of 16 damaged bridges had been repaired, while four others were still using alternative routes. “There are still several bridges under repair, but alternative routes are available, so functionally they can already be passed,” he said.

BNPB also reported that 360 of 361 landslide points had been handled. “For the number of affected road sections, all have been worked on. Functionally it is already 100 percent,” Abdul said.

With main corridors restored, BNPB said the next priority was utilities. “Our next priority is the recovery of the energy sector, which we hope can be completed by mid January,” Abdul said.

Housing has emerged as the central recovery challenge. BNPB recorded a total of 78,559 proposed housing units across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, covering severely damaged homes, temporary shelters, and permanent housing.

In Aceh alone, BNPB recorded 44,673 severely damaged homes and 23,317 proposed temporary shelters. Abdul said 22,000 affected households were included in the housing waiting fund scheme. “Of those, 11,414 households are proposed to receive housing waiting funds of Rp 600,000 per month per household,” he said.

He said construction of temporary shelters in Aceh had reached 1,094 units. “Eight hundred units are being built by Danantara, 96 units by the Public Works Ministry, and 198 units by the Aceh Tamiang local government,” Abdul said.

In North Sumatra, BNPB recorded 5,890 severely damaged homes, 1,330 temporary shelters, and 3,692 permanent housing units. “Instead of temporary shelters, some communities asked directly for permanent housing, and we are doing that in North Sumatra,” Abdul said.

In West Sumatra, BNPB recorded 2,997 severely damaged homes and 872 temporary shelters. Abdul said the housing waiting fund scheme was proposed for 2,227 households, with 248 households already receiving the support.

President Prabowo Subianto said the government would not reject disaster aid from any party as long as the process was clear and sincere. “If there are parties who sincerely want to help, as human beings how could we refuse help, as long as the assistance is clear,” Prabowo said after visiting disaster affected areas on Thursday.

He warned against aid that created future obligations. “We do not reject assistance, but the mechanism and procedures must be clear and must be sincere, because we have experienced being helped before and later someone came to collect,” Prabowo said.

Prabowo said donors were welcome to contribute through official channels. “If there are parties who want to give donations, please do so. Write a letter saying I want to donate this, report it to the central government, and then we will distribute it,” he said.

He also allowed governors to open special accounts for disaster aid. “Whether later the governors of Aceh, West Sumatra, or North Sumatra open accounts for post disaster assistance so donors can transfer directly, please do so,” Prabowo said.

Prabowo stressed that recovery must include public facilities. “I also ask for attention so that schools, clinics, and hospitals can function again as quickly as possible,” he said during a coordination meeting in Aceh Tamiang.

Responding to criticism that officials only visited disaster zones to look around, Prabowo defended on site inspections. “I have heard criticism like this, ‘what is the point of ministers coming to disaster areas, just to look around,’” he said.

He added, “If ministers do not come, they are said not to care. Should ministers start hoeing fields. That is not it. We come to see, to know the problems directly, so we can decide what is needed.”