BPS Strengthens Data Support for Disaster Management in Sumatra

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) is strengthening data support to accelerate post-disaster response efforts in the provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. This was conveyed by the Chief Statistician of BPS RI, Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, during the Coordination Meeting of the Disaster Recovery Task Force between the House of Representatives (DPR RI) and the Government, held in Banda Aceh on January 10. The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Home Affairs, M. Tito Karnavian, and the Vice Speaker of the DPR RI, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad.

BPS’s disaster data management is categorized into pre-disaster and post-disaster data. Post-disaster data collection consists of: (1) rapid data response; and (2) direct field data collection.

During the meeting, BPS presented the data collection process for affected households, housing, and infrastructure impacted by floods and landslides across the three provinces. Field data collection will be conducted through direct visits to residents’ homes, data collection at evacuation centers, and documentation of building conditions using photographs and geotagged coordinates.

The data collection for the Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Plan will utilize the National Single Social and Economic Data (DTSEN), data compiled by local governments and the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), as well as data to be collected by BPS in the field. This process includes identifying affected families, recording housing conditions, documenting public infrastructure, and conducting data matching to ensure that assistance is accurately targeted.

On January 14 2026, BPS will deploy 510 students from the Polytechnic of Statistics STIS through a Field Work Practice program, 40 staff members from BPS Headquarters assigned to field operations, and 1,059 staff members from BPS offices across 52 affected regencies and municipalities in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.