Indonesia Tackles Drought at 1,229 Locations Nationwide

Indonesia's Ministry of Public Works (PU) has taken action at 1,229 locations nationwide to combat the impacts of drought, as of August 21, 2026. These efforts targeted agricultural lands, residential areas, and locations affected by forest and land fires, addressing critical needs amid the ongoing El Niño phenomenon.

Minister of Public Works Dody Hanggodo emphasized the vital role of water availability for sustainable development, particularly in agriculture, which heavily relies on consistent water supply. "Quality water services are the backbone of economic, social, and environmental development, especially for regions facing limited water resources and the impacts of climate change," he stated.

The Directorate General of Water Resources reported that 1,072 drought-affected locations have been successfully managed, with 157 still undergoing intervention. Specifically, 157 rice field sites received drought mitigation, 931 residential areas were supplied with clean water, and 141 locations impacted by forest and land fires were addressed. These actions helped preserve approximately 41,252 hectares of rice fields and provided clean water to over 616,000 people.

In the agricultural sector, measures included pumping water from rivers, normalizing irrigation channels, and constructing emergency channels. For residential areas, the focus was on distributing clean water. The ministry also implemented firefighting efforts for forest and land fires. Java experienced the largest scope of operations, accounting for 728 locations and benefiting significantly from these interventions. The ministry continues to mobilize resources to mitigate drought impacts and maintain food productivity.

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Quality water services are the backbone of economic, social, and environmental development, especially for regions facing limited water resources and the impacts of climate change.