First in History: Solidarity through TKD for Flood Recovery in Sumatra
Various facilities and people’s lives in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra were paralysed at the end of November 2025. Floodwaters inundated 53 districts/cities, damaging at least 302,222 residents’ homes and disrupting healthcare, education, and economic activities. At that time, the central government estimated recovery needs at Rp 51 trillion.
Amid these swelling needs, fiscal space tightened. In a meeting of the DPR RI Budget Agency with the government on 18 September 2025, the 2026 state budget (APBN) was agreed at Rp 3,153.6 trillion. TKD allocation became Rp 693 trillion, although increased from the initial draft, it fell 29.34 per cent compared to the previous year’s realisation of Rp 919 trillion.
This situation placed regions in a difficult position. Local governments in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra were compelled to find ways to keep rehabilitation and reconstruction processes running.
Aceh’s Deputy Governor Fadhlullah recognised that without central government assistance, rebuilding the province would be exceedingly difficult. Moreover, several areas such as East Aceh Regency, Gayo Lues, Central Aceh, Pidie Jaya, North Aceh, Aceh Tamiang, and Bener Meriah still require special attention to this day.
Therefore, in the Coordination Meeting of the DPR Post-Disaster Recovery Task Force in Banda Aceh, led by Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad on 10 January, Fadhlullah proposed exempting Aceh from the TKD efficiency cut scheme. The meeting was also attended by Interior Minister Tito Karnavian, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas Maruarar Sirait, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, and Public Works Minister Dody Hanggodo, along with other government officials.
This proposal seemed logical and necessary. Dasco, also the Daily Chairman of the Gerindra Party, immediately relayed the news to President Prabowo Subianto. After various considerations, Prabowo issued an order for Aceh’s TKD to avoid cuts.
This decision was then followed up. Through presentations by Interior Minister Tito Karnavian and Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa in Hambalang on 17 January 2026, it was conveyed that fiscal constraints would also be faced by North Sumatra and West Sumatra, which bore no less heavy disaster burdens. Therefore, the decision not to cut TKD was extended to the three provinces.
Thus, through Ministerial Decree (KMK) Number 59 of 2026, the central government reallocated TKD to the three provinces that had previously faced Rp 10.6 trillion in efficiency cuts. The breakdown includes Aceh Province at Rp 1.6 trillion, North Sumatra Rp 6.3 trillion, and West Sumatra Rp 2.6 trillion. Subsequently, derivative regulations were issued by Interior Minister Tito Karnavian via Circular Letter Number 900.1.3/1084/SJ on 2 March 2026. In that policy, guidelines for utilising TKD funds for the three provinces are also stated, including item 7c which regulates financial assistance from unaffected regions to districts/cities directly impacted by the disaster.
“For local governments in the regions of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra that are not directly affected by the disaster, the additional TKD for FY 2026 must also be directed towards budgeting activities: c. provision of financial assistance to districts/cities directly impacted by the disaster,” as stated in the circular.
As Chairman of the Task Force for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) Post-Disaster Sumatra, Tito held a meeting on the amount of TKD with governors, regents, and mayors from Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra via an online gathering on Thursday, 5 March 2026. Key points of its utilisation in the guidelines include swift adjustment of allocations, use for pre-disaster needs, provision of emergency response disaster budgets, provision of post-disaster budgets, and so forth.
Data shows that of 23 districts/cities in Aceh, 18 areas were affected by the disaster. In North Sumatra, 19 out of 33 districts/cities experienced similar impacts, while in West Sumatra, 16 out of 19 districts/cities were also affected. Thus, overall, there are 22 districts/cities in the three provinces that were not directly impacted by the floods at the end of November 2025.
Meanwhile, in Aceh particularly East Aceh Regency, Gayo Lues, Central Aceh, Pidie Jaya, North Aceh, Aceh Tamiang, and Bener Meriah suffered quite severe damage. As an initial step to build solidarity, the Directorate General of Regional Financial Development of the Ministry of Home Affairs held a meeting with regional heads on 12 and 17 April 2026.
The results of that meeting indicate that collaboration is not just empty talk. For example, the Mayor of Medan demonstrated commitment by channelling TKD grants to Aceh Tamiang Regency. This step became a symbol of TKD distribution from unaffected areas to impacted regions.
Similar steps were taken by Deli Serdang Regency to East Aceh, Asahan to Bireuen, Simalungun to North Aceh, and Pematang Siantar to Bener Meriah. Additionally, Labuhan Batu provided support for Gayo Lues, Serdang Bedagai to Pidie Jaya, and South Labuhan Batu to Central Aceh.
The continuation of this swift action took place in the Ballroom of Hotel Muraya, Banda Aceh, on Monday, 20 April 2026. Around 26 participants from 21 to 24 cities as members across Sumatra attended the 2026 Regional Commissariat I APEKSI Working Meeting with the theme “Resilient Cities, Strong Fiscal, Close Collaboration”.
This gathering became a symbolic moment for Task Force Head Tito to witness the handover of Statements of Willingness to Provide Special Financial Assistance by 8 districts/cities in North Sumatra to 8 districts/cities in Aceh that are still struggling to recover. Without holding back, the effort of mutual assistance gathered funds reaching Rp 260 billion.
This result demonstrates