Jakarta. State-lender BNI is backing the sovereign fund Danantara's program in providing 15,000 temporary homes for Sumatra flood victims.

Danantara recently unveiled the Huntara program — short for Hunian Danantara. The housing construction will target the disaster-struck provinces: Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra. In Aceh Tamiang, the program will see the construction of 600 units, about 20% or 120 units of which will be backed by BNI.

According to BNI Director for Information Technology Toto Prasetio, the bank's involvement in the Huntara program is part of the company's commitment to make sure the evacuees can have access to proper housing as soon as possible. Its participation also reflects the strong collaboration between Indonesia's state-owned enterprises via the BUMN Peduli Satu Hati untuk Sumatra program.

"BNI's support will not only focus on the construction, but we also wish to be a part of the social and economic recovery. This way, the victims can gradually get back on their feet," Toto, who had made an in-person visit to the Huntara housing, was quoted as saying in a press statement.

The construction firm Hutama Karya is the lead coordinator in the construction. The housing in Aceh Tamiang will be located in Banda Aceh-Medan Street, Kebun Tanjung Seumantoh, Karang Baru Subdistrict, Aceh Tamiang Regency. Toto also went on to say that BNI will continue to provide aid for the post-disaster recovery phase to make sure that the rehabilitation has a real impact on the affected community.

Danantara reported that the housing complex in Aceh Tamiang had entered its final stages. The first phase of the 600 housing units would be handed over on Jan. 8. The complex will also have a playground, Wi-Fi, prayer rooms, public facilities, as well as bathrooms and sanitation facilities. Within the next three months, the fund aims to complete 15,000 residential units: namely 12,000 units in Aceh, approximately 2,000 units in South Tapanuli and Central Tapanuli, and another 500 units in West Sumatra.

President Prabowo Subianto recently checked on the Huntara program on Thursday as he spent New Year's Eve in disaster sites. Prabowo at the time said that the speedy construction reflected the government's commitment to make sure that the victims receive adequate housing as quickly as possible. 

"I also ask that, if possible, schools be given attention, along with community health centers and hospitals, so they can resume operations as quickly as possible," Prabowo said at the time.

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