Cabinet Secretary Teddy: 253 Tonnes of Aid Sent to NTT
The government continues to accelerate the distribution of aid for communities affected by the 7.7-magnitude earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The move follows President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to ensure the needs of residents in affected areas are promptly met.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said that as of Wednesday (19/8), the fifth day after the disaster, 253 tonnes of logistics had been sent to several affected areas in NTT. Aid deliveries resumed in the early hours of Wednesday. Five aircraft departed from Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta, carrying 65 tonnes of logistics for communities in need.
“First, on the President’s instruction, today, the fifth day after the disaster, 19 August 2026, at 4 a.m., five aircraft were again dispatched to NTT, today carrying a total of 65 tonnes of logistics. So from the first day’s 27 tonnes through to the fifth day, 253 tonnes of logistics have been transported,” said Cabinet Secretary Teddy.
The aid sent includes various basic necessities and disaster response support items, such as food, drinks, tents, medical equipment, and other needs.
To accelerate distribution to affected areas, the government is operating two main posts located in Labuan Bajo and Maumere. The Labuan Bajo post serves as a distribution point for aid to several areas, including Manggarai and Ngada. Meanwhile, from the Maumere post, logistics are channelled to Sikka, Ende, and Nagekeo. Distribution is carried out using various modes of transport, from air and sea to land.
For the air route, the government has deployed helicopters, Cassa aircraft, and smaller planes to reach locations in need of aid. Meanwhile, via the sea route, three Indonesian Navy vessels (KRI) are already in the affected area. In addition, one hospital ship is reported to be arriving in the region soon. “The report from the Minister of Public Works (Dody Hanggodo) is that all land routes have been passable since the second day,” Teddy revealed.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy stressed that the government continues to monitor the disaster response process in NTT. Oversight is being carried out to ensure aid distribution runs effectively and community needs can be addressed promptly.
Amid the response efforts, Teddy also expressed appreciation to officials, volunteers, residents, and all parties who have helped with disaster response and aid distribution.
“Thank you to all officials on duty, to residents, to volunteers, to anyone who has helped with this disaster response so that logistics can be delivered as quickly as possible and their benefits felt as soon as possible by affected residents,” he said.