Editor’s Note
- North Sumatra Receives Additional Regional Transfer Funds for Disaster Recovery
- Disaster Transfer Funds Urgently Needed in North Sumatra
- Accelerating Disaster Reconstruction in Sumatra
- Transition from Emergency to Recovery
North Sumatra Receives Additional Regional Transfer Funds for Disaster Recovery
North Sumatra Vice Governor H. Surya welcomed the central government’s decision to increase the regional transfer funds (TKD) for North Sumatra from the original IDR 4.3 trillion to IDR 6.3 trillion in 2026.
Surya expressed his appreciation after attending the explanatory memorandum on the adjustments to the regional transfer funds for fiscal year 2026 in the regional budget (APBD), led by Minister of the Interior Tito Karnavian, on Thursday, March 5. 2026.
Disaster Transfer Funds Urgently Needed in North Sumatra
The meeting was attended by local governments from three provinces: Aceh, North Sumatra (Sumut), and West Sumatra (Sumbar). The Deputy Governor participated virtually from his residence on Jalan Teuku Daud in Medan.
After the meeting, the Deputy Governor stated that the central government’s regional disaster relief funds (TKD) for disaster management in North Sumatra are crucial for post-disaster recovery. In addition to budgetary support, regulations are therefore essential to ensure the rapid disbursement of these funds.
“Yes, if the regulations are in place, we can use the funds immediately without having to wait for the regional budget amendment phase,” said the vice governor, who also consulted with various officials, including Deputy Director-General Muhammad Suib, head of the East Tumanggor Regional Office for Civil Service (BKAD), and other officials.
Accelerating Disaster Reconstruction in Sumatra
Minister of the Interior Tito Karnavian, who also chairs the Task Force for Accelerating Disaster Reconstruction in Sumatra, stated that this policy was initiated by President Prabowo Subianto and the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) to strengthen regional budgetary policy.
Furthermore, the additional allocation of Regional Disaster Response Funds (TKD), previously earmarked only for affected districts/cities, has now been expanded to all regions. This means that of the 18 regions in North Sumatra, 33 districts/cities can now benefit from the program. A similar policy also applies to two other provinces.
This policy was further elaborated in Decree No. 59 of 2026 of the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia, as well as in a circular from the Minister of the Interior, which regulates the technical use of funds by regional governments.
“I am trying to make things easier for my fellow regional administrators,” he said.
The Transition Phase from Emergency to Recovery
Suharyanto, head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), also stated that the emergency phase has ended and that the transition to the transition phase from emergency to recovery has begun. In this phase, government support focuses on helping the disaster victims recover and become self-reliant.
The city of Sibolga and the Central Tapanuli district, in particular, are still experiencing difficulties obtaining reliable data on the disaster victims. This is due to the subsequent flooding in January and February.
“We must wait for a recommendation from the Geological Survey to determine whether the houses to be built are in a danger zone,” he said.
However, the government aims to complete the relocation of residents still in evacuation tents to temporary housing (Huntara) before Eid al-Fitr, which is just two weeks away.
“During this transition from emergency to recovery, regional officials can therefore propose other needs, such as clothing and food; we can still support them with the available resources of the BNPB. Of course, the situation must be urgent,” he concluded. ***rel
