Free Nutritious Meal Programme for Outermost Islands in Simeulue to Begin October 2026

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) for Simeulue Regency, Zainuddin, has stated that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme on the outermost islands of the archipelago regency in Aceh Province will commence in October 2026. There are currently two schools on the outermost islands of Simeulue Regency that have not yet received the MBG programme. The plan is for the programme to be implemented at these two schools in October and November 2026. The two schools are the Satu Atap SD and SMP Pulau Siumat in East Simeulue District, and the Satu Atap SD and SMP Pulau Teupah in West Teupah District, Simeulue Regency, Aceh Province. The Satu Atap SD and SMP Pulau Siumat has 84 students and 11 teachers, while the Satu Atap SD and SMP Pulau Teupah has 56 students and 13 teachers. Zainuddin noted that the MBG programme at these two schools requires special attention given the travel distance of two to three hours by motorboat from the sub-district centre. The fulfilment of the programme at the two schools will involve a special kitchen to ensure food quality is maintained. The Head of the Satu Atap SD and SMP in Pulau Siumat Village, Safii, said that the distribution of meals for the MBG programme is still awaiting the construction of a special kitchen as the main prerequisite for the programme’s realisation. He expressed hope that the MBG programme can be realised soon so that children on the outermost islands can receive the same services as other children in Indonesia. Simeulue Regency is an outermost island region in Aceh Province, located in the Indian Ocean, approximately 180 nautical miles from the west coast of Sumatra. The regency was established in 1999 from a division of West Aceh Regency and consists of 10 sub-districts with 138 villages, inhabited by around 96,000 people.