Awaiting Complete Data, Government Accelerates Aid Distribution in Sumatra

The Head of the Task Force for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Post-Sumatra Disaster, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, stated that the government continues to distribute financial aid gradually to affected communities. Tito explained that the fund disbursement process is being carried out as quickly as possible for residents whose data is already available, without needing to wait for the entire data collection process to be completed in all areas. “There’s no need to wait until the data is fully complete; whatever is available, submit it, and we’ll pay. It’s called a phased, wave-based mechanism because the amount is quite large and spread out,” Tito said at the Presidential Staff Office in Jakarta on Wednesday (25/3). In handling the Sumatra disaster, the government has set the aid amounts for home repairs at Rp15 million for minor damage, Rp30 million for moderate damage, and Rp60 million for severe damage. Additionally, household furniture aid of Rp3 million, economic support worth Rp5 million, and Life Assurance (Jadup) aid in the form of food money amounting to Rp15,000 per person per day are provided for a full three months. Tito added that the central government continues to encourage regions that have not yet submitted aid requests to promptly provide data on affected residents. According to him, accelerating the submission of data is crucial so that the administrative process and aid disbursement can be realised immediately. At the same time, he reminded local governments not to wait for data collection to be fully completed, but to directly submit the available data so that aid can be distributed gradually. “There are two regions that have not yet applied up to now, and we continue to encourage this,” Tito concluded.