Bapanas: Rice aid for NTT earthquake victims reaches Rp139 billion

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Food Agency (Bapanas) has stated that rice aid for earthquake victims in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) distributed by the government has reached approximately Rp139 billion, with a volume of 9,980 tonnes to meet the food needs of communities affected by the disaster.

Head of Bapanas and Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman said the 9,980 tonnes of rice aid was distributed to seven affected districts to ensure the food needs of communities during the disaster response period. “One of the things that must be ensured is the availability of rice for communities affected by natural disasters. Rice supplies will be released by Perum Bulog,” Amran said as confirmed in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Bapanas said the government is currently working together to assist communities affected by the earthquake in NTT. Previously, on 19 August 2026, the government had allocated 6,800 tonnes of rice worth Rp95.2 billion to assist communities affected by the NTT earthquake, targeting five districts in the province. Then on 24 August, the government added approximately 6,800 tonnes of rice aid worth more than Rp43 billion.

As a result, the total allocation of disaster rice aid and regular rice food assistance for handling NTT earthquake victims reached 9,980 tonnes distributed to seven affected districts. Overall, the value of the assistance is estimated to reach Rp139 billion.

The 9,980 tonnes consists of an allocation of 1,320 tonnes from the disaster assistance programme and 8,650 tonnes from the regular rice food assistance programme. The 1,320 tonnes of disaster assistance allocation is based on a calculation of 265,375 people at 300 grams of rice per person per day for 14 days of the first phase emergency response period, he explained.

However, to facilitate distribution, through Decree of the Head of the National Food Agency Number 2 of 2026, the amount of rice under the disaster assistance programme has been set at 5 kilograms per person for the 14-day emergency response allocation. The decree updates the previous provision on the amount of rice under the disaster assistance programme, which had been set at 250 grams per person per day.

The policy update is intended to further optimise distribution, taking into account the situation and conditions of areas affected by natural disasters.

Furthermore, for the current NTT disaster response, the allocation for the seven affected districts includes Manggarai Regency with an allocation of 181.63 tonnes of disaster assistance and 1,790 tonnes of regular food assistance. East Manggarai Regency has an allocation of 278.78 tonnes of disaster assistance and 1,660 tonnes of regular food assistance.

Ngada Regency has an allocation of 86.88 tonnes of disaster assistance and 444.21 tonnes of regular food assistance. Nagekeo Regency has an allocation of 661.18 tonnes of disaster assistance and 625.14 tonnes of regular food assistance. Sikka Regency has an allocation of 28.41 tonnes of disaster assistance and 1,280 tonnes of regular food assistance.

Two additional districts have been included: West Manggarai Regency with an allocation of 71.45 tonnes of disaster assistance and 1,340 tonnes of regular food assistance, and Ende Regency with an allocation of 18.58 tonnes of disaster assistance and 1,500 tonnes of regular food assistance.