As a hydrometeorological catastrophe, the flash floods and landslides that struck the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra have altered the residential landscape, claimed hundreds of lives, and left deep humanitarian wounds, particularly for the people of Aceh Tamiang Regency.
Post-disaster management activities in Aceh Tamiang Regency have demonstrated significant and measurable progress. The National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB) recorded a total requirement of 4,189 temporary housing units (huntara). By early March 2026, thousands of units had been constructed—fully equipped with basic facilities such as clean water, electricity, and household furniture—and were occupied by 1,339 heads of households (KK). This construction continues to be accelerated through cross-ministerial collaboration and the Task Force for Acceleration of Reconstruction and Rehabilitation (Satgas PRR) so that more affected residents still living in tents can move into decent housing after the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
Although data from the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Aceh Tamiang Regency as of early March 2026 still recorded around 1,396 individuals remaining in refugee tents, that number continues to drop significantly over time. Thousands of households have successfully returned to their permanent homes following the completion of infrastructure rehabilitation, while more than 1,900 households have received Rent Allowance (Dana Tunggu Hunian or DTH) ranging from Rp600,000 to Rp1.8 million per month as a flexible, self-reliant solution.
Before President Prabowo Subianto performed the Eid al-Fitr prayer with the community at the Darussalam Mosque in the Aceh Tamiang temporary housing area on March 21, 2026, field data confirmed that the resettlement process had reached an encouraging critical juncture: almost all refugees had moved out of emergency tents, and electricity infrastructure was reported to be 99 percent restored. President Prabowo’s direct visit during this Eid al-Fitr momentum served to personally verify the tiered reports he received, listen to the voices of the people within the temporary housing, and ensure that every recovery step taken by the government is strictly based on real and accountable data.
Building thousands of temporary housing units in a post-catastrophe location is certainly not an instant task; the process demands a massive supply of materials, precise coordination among agencies, and the involvement of local experts—where 70 percent of them are residents of Aceh Tamiang itself. As part of a wise and sustainable humanization of labor, construction workers who worked tirelessly throughout Ramadan are currently taking a collective leave break to celebrate Eid al-Fitr with their families. This hiatus is expected to recharge their energy, fostering higher morale and productivity to complete the remaining housing construction after the joint holiday break.
For mothers and families in affected villages such as Sekumur who remain in refugee tents, we deeply understand your profound sorrow. Every family urgently needs the certainty of decent, immediate housing. However, the government has never turned a blind eye to the realities on the ground. Quite the contrary, with full awareness of this suffering, all ranks are working relentlessly to expedite the completion of the temporary housing.
Addressing Structural Weaknesses via Principal-Agent Theory
While the accelerated development of temporary housing has brought tangible progress, structural weaknesses remain that must be addressed immediately—specifically, the implementation of the Principal-Agent Theory (Information Asymmetry) between the Central Government and Regional Governments. Information asymmetry often triggers “moral hazard” in the form of overly optimistic (inaccurate) policy reporting, which creates a perception of contradictory claims in the public sphere.
In Aceh Tamiang, this is clearly visible from the data discrepancies between BNPB and BPBD regarding the number of individuals still staying in refugee tents. Furthermore, field report updates do not yet fully reflect the reality of isolated villages like Sekumur. This type of bureaucratic pathology makes it increasingly difficult for the central government to optimize outcomes. This flaw is not the result of individual malice, but rather a reflection of a bureaucratic structure that has not fully adapted to the complexities of handling large-scale disasters in remote areas.
The best strategy to address Information Asymmetry within a post-catastrophe ecosystem is to build a holistic mitigation mechanism that prevents various bureaucratic pathologies through four fundamental pillars:
- First, adopting real-time digital monitoring technologies. The central government urgently needs direct access to geospatial data, field photos, and videos in the form of live daily reports without layered intermediary bureaucratic hurdles. Therefore, integrating real-time monitoring platforms must be a top priority for the central government.
- Second, designing outcome-based incentive contracts rather than just input-based ones. Regional fund allocations can be tied to target achievements verified independently by a third party or involving related institutions to safeguard accountability.
- Third, strengthening the capacity of regional government apparatuses. This can be enhanced by providing training rooted in principal-agent alignment, complete with strict sanctions for moral hazard practices, alongside clear rewards for transparency and reporting accuracy.
- Fourth, involving civil society as a “second principal.” By establishing direct complaint mechanisms and publishing open data in real time, the space for corruption or reporting delays can be minimized, while reinforcing shared accountability between the government and the people.
This approach—as directly applied by President Prabowo through field visits and the establishment of the Satgas PRR—does not merely prevent bureaucratic failure, but transforms it into an adaptive, accountable, and people-oriented bureaucracy in line with a progressive, efficient, and inclusive governance spirit.
By systematically overcoming information asymmetry, coordination between the central and regional governments will become more solid, synergistic, and resilient in facing future catastrophic challenges. Let us wholeheartedly support these efforts, because policy that sides with the people is the finest investment for our beloved Indonesian nation.
