Habitat Indonesia and Nagekeo Regency Government Strengthen Commitment to Flores Earthquake Recovery

Nagekeo, September 10, 2026 – As the recovery phase following the Flores earthquake begins, Habitat for Humanity Indonesia is strengthening its long-term commitment with the Government of Nagekeo Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, to support affected families as they gradually recover and rebuild their lives.

The commitment was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Nagekeo Regent Simplisius Donatus and Habitat for Humanity Indonesia National Director Handoko Ngadiman. The MoU was signed in a hybrid format on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, providing a foundation for collaboration in implementing post-disaster recovery programs in Nagekeo Regency.

Through this partnership, Habitat Indonesia will implement the Flores Housing Recovery program, which focuses on housing recovery and basic services for families affected by the earthquake, particularly in Aesesa District. The program is planned to run for the next year, with coordination involving the local government and relevant stakeholders.

The recovery program will include several forms of support. Habitat Indonesia will support the repair and structural strengthening of 200 homes through a retrofitting approach, targeting homes that sustained light to moderate damage from the earthquake. These efforts aim to help families have safer and more decent homes.

In addition to housing recovery, support will also focus on restoring household access to safe water and sanitation services. Community education and capacity building will also be part of the program through training on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) practices, as well as principles for safer housing construction and repairs that reduce disaster risks through a Build Back Safer approach.

Recovery efforts will also extend to public facilities affected by the disaster. Habitat Indonesia plans to rehabilitate schools and community health posts to help restore access to education and primary healthcare services for local communities.

“The Government of Nagekeo Regency, together with the community, would like to express our appreciation and gratitude to Habitat for Humanity Indonesia and its donors for the support provided. We welcome this support as part of our collective efforts to help the people of Nagekeo through the post-disaster recovery process,” said Nagekeo Regent Simplisius Donatus.

Starting Recovery with the First Steps

This long-term recovery commitment builds on Habitat Indonesia’s response since the early stages following the disaster. Previously, on August 31, 2026, with support from its donors, Habitat Indonesia distributed 100 Emergency Shelter Kits (ESKs) to earthquake-affected families across five villages in Aesesa District: Aeramo, Marapokot, Nangadhero, Tonggurambang, and Waekokak.

The ESK packages contain various construction and repair tools that families can use to clear earthquake debris and carry out emergency repairs on damaged homes. This support serves as an initial step for families to begin recovering their homes independently, based on the condition of each house.

For Habitat Indonesia, post-disaster recovery does not end with the provision of emergency assistance. Housing repairs, restoration of basic services, community capacity building, and rehabilitation of public facilities all need to be carried out gradually and sustainably.

“The support from Habitat for Humanity Indonesia’s donors is an opportunity to continue doing good and supporting affected families. We hope this assistance will help families gradually restore their homes and rebuild safer lives after the disaster,” said Habitat for Humanity Indonesia National Director Handoko Ngadiman.

Through the Flores Housing Recovery program, Habitat Indonesia and the Government of Nagekeo Regency are working to ensure that the recovery process is well coordinated and responds to the needs of affected communities. Collaboration among different stakeholders is essential to ensure that families receive not only support during the emergency response phase, but also continued assistance to rebuild their homes and lives over the long term.

Post-disaster recovery is a journey that takes time and requires collective efforts from many parties. Therefore, Habitat Indonesia continues to welcome opportunities for #SahabatHabitat to take part in supporting families affected by the Flores earthquake.

Let us work together to help families in Flores restore their homes, rebuild their lives, and create a safer future. Make a donation through the information provided on the campaign flyer.

Writer: Kevin Herbian

Graphic: Tias Ester Widhari

(kh/av)