100 Billion Rupiah Aid Disbursed, Gus Ipul Ensures Disaster Response in East Aceh
The Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf, together with the Minister of Home Affairs and Chair of the Post-Disaster Acceleration Task Force for Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) Tito Karnavian, has disbursed disaster relief assistance totalling 100.975 billion rupiah to East Aceh Regency to support the recovery of affected communities and stimulate regional economic revival.
The assistance comprises socioeconomic stimulus assistance (BSSE) for 7,643 households worth 38.215 billion rupiah, livelihood guarantees (jadup) for 28,831 individuals totalling 38.921 billion rupiah, housing furnishings for 7,643 households valued at 22.929 billion rupiah, and bereaved family compensation for 60 individuals amounting to 900 million rupiah. Additionally, severe injury compensation is provided to two individuals at 10 million rupiah.
“For those who have passed away, support of 15 million rupiah; severe injuries, 5 million rupiah. After that, there is support for purchasing household furnishings, including kitchen equipment and household furniture, at 3 million rupiah per family. Following that, BSSE support of 5 million rupiah per family, and finally livelihood guarantees for three months for each affected individual,” stated Gus Ipul in a written statement on Monday, 16 March 2026.
Overall, total assistance for Aceh Province has reached 585.444 billion rupiah benefiting 45,416 households or 164,531 individuals. The total disaster relief for the Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra regions amounts to 878.681 billion rupiah.
“In essence, these three disaster-affected provinces are receiving extraordinary attention from President Prabowo Subianto. The President has established a special task force chaired by the Home Minister to coordinate all government assistance and support, given the extensive and severe impact of the disaster, and to mobilise all resources with the hope that the response will proceed effectively,” he added.
He expressed hope that all assistance would be distributed with accurate targeting, ensuring recipients receive amounts precisely as determined by the government.
“Secondly, accuracy in amounts, so delivery costs are not deducted, as the government has covered the costs of distributing assistance, so we hope the support amounts are truly accurate and genuinely used appropriately by beneficiaries,” he explained.
Gus Ipul also emphasised the importance of data accuracy in assistance distribution to ensure proper targeting. Beneficiary data begins with initial data from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), then compiled by name and address by regional leaders, verified by local police and high prosecutors’ offices.
This data is subsequently verified by the PRR Task Force and cross-referenced with population data through the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) before being established as the basis for disbursement.
“After going through that process and signed by the Home Minister, it becomes verified data. This data is then used as the basis for disbursing assistance,” he stressed.
He added that the government is continuing efforts to distribute assistance as quickly as possible, with the target of aid reaching affected communities before Lebaran.
“The current assistance disbursement process is over 713 billion rupiah. Whilst verified data shows requirements of 878 billion rupiah, so currently an additional 127 billion rupiah is being processed by the Ministry of Finance. Hopefully, the remainder can still be disbursed before Lebaran,” he noted.
Similarly, Tito Karnavian conveyed that government assistance is not only intended to ease the burden on affected communities but is also expected to support regional economic recovery.
“We hope that aside from providing assistance, it can also help economic recovery because economic growth in affected areas, particularly in Aceh, has slowed. Aceh even experienced minus 1.6 per cent growth in the fourth quarter of 2025. This requires many efforts, including strengthening community purchasing power,” said Tito.
He explained that affected areas in the three provinces will also receive additional Regional Transfer (TKD) of 10.6 trillion rupiah as an effort to accelerate infrastructure recovery.
“1.6 trillion rupiah is allocated to Aceh, then over 6 trillion rupiah to North Sumatra and over 2 trillion rupiah to West Sumatra, distributed in February, March, and finally April,” he added.
Meanwhile, Iskandar Usman Al-Farlaky expressed appreciation for central government attention. He valued the repeated presence of several central government officials as indicative of the state’s seriousness in assisting East Aceh residents.
“This demonstrates the considerable attention of the central government towards disaster-affected areas,” he stated.
He also thanked President Prabowo Subianto and the cabinet for their support and attention to East Aceh residents and other affected areas.
“On behalf of fellow regents and mayors from other regions, I express profound gratitude to President Prabowo Subianto and all cabinet members for the considerable attention given to us in disaster-affected areas of Sumatra,” he concluded.