Jusuf Kalla warns Sumatra flood recovery may exceed US$3.6 million in year-long operation

The post-flood recovery needs across Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra are expected to exceed Rp60 billion, according to the Chair of the Indonesian Red Cross, Jusuf Kalla.

Tempo reported that he delivered this assessment during his visit to the Sumatra disaster logistics centre at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base on 1 December 2025.

He said each of the three affected provinces would likely require at least Rp 20 billion (US$1.3 million) to sustain basic needs over the next year. These needs include clean water, essential goods, and community-level health support. He added that the scale of the disaster had placed significant pressure on residents who had suffered widespread losses.

Jusuf Kalla emphasised that recovery efforts would be as challenging as initial mitigation work. He said the government must ensure that basic requirements are met for all affected communities and that families regain access to safe shelter.

He noted that the number of displaced people may reach into the millions across the three provinces.

He explained that PMI would launch a year-long recovery programme to address the most urgent needs. This programme includes distributing clean water and supporting the restoration of public health systems in affected communities.

According to Tempo, PMI will deploy 200 water tankers and 10 water purifiers at designated points in the three provinces.

He noted that many water channels had been severely damaged. He said this had led to a widespread clean water crisis and that immediate solutions were required. He added that pipelines had been destroyed, rendering water infrastructure unusable. PMI therefore planned to mobilise all available tankers to maintain water supply.

Floods and landslides began affecting Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra on 25 November 2025 following prolonged heavy rainfall. Tempo reported that the disaster caused severe disruptions, cutting off road access to several districts and paralyising electricity and communication networks in various areas.

According to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), 1.1 million residents were affected as of 30 November. The agency recorded 442 deaths, 402 missing persons, and 646 injuries. Approximately 290,000 people were displaced from their homes. The agency also documented extensive damage to housing and infrastructure.

BNPB recorded 827 severely damaged houses, 694 moderately damaged houses, and 1,300 houses with light damage. The region’s transport infrastructure was heavily impacted, with 133 bridges damaged. Additionally, 43 public facilities were destroyed.

IDN Times reported that, beyond material assistance, PMI also opened financial donation channels to support long-term recovery. Jusuf Kalla said donations could be made through a designated Bank Mandiri account or via the PMI website.

He added that the organisation used other banking partners such as BRI and BCA, but Bank Mandiri was the main channel at this stage.

He stressed the urgency of public participation. He said immediate contributions were needed because PMI’s recovery operations would last at least one year. He added that sustaining these operations required substantial resources.

He described post-flood recovery as a long-term commitment. He said previous disasters such as the Merapi eruption and the 2022 Cianjur earthquake had shown the extensive financial and organisational demands required in the aftermath of major crises.

BNPB continues to update its casualty figures. As of 30 November, Sumatra Utara recorded 217 deaths and 209 missing persons. West Sumatra recorded 129 deaths and 118 missing persons, while Aceh recorded 96 deaths and 75 missing persons.