Government Allocates Rp 98 Billion for Disaster Victims' Housing Contents in Sumatra
Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul) outlined the latest developments in the distribution of social assistance for disaster-affected areas in Sumatra. Gus Ipul said that regular social assistance disbursements have now reached Rp 1.83 trillion.
“Firstly, regarding regular social assistance — for three provinces, we have been distributing since early February. The total budget stands at Rp 1,832,738,125,000,” Gus Ipul said during a meeting with House of Representatives leaders at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday (18/2/2026).
“This is directed at more than 1.7 million beneficiary families across three provinces: Aceh, West Sumatra, and North Sumatra,” he continued.
Gus Ipul said that beyond regular social assistance, the Ministry of Social Affairs has also been distributing disaster-specific social aid. He explained that this encompasses logistical support, communal kitchens, and assistance during the rehabilitation and reconstruction phases.
During the rehabilitation and reconstruction stage, Gus Ipul explained, the assistance covers bereavement payments for the families of deceased victims and those with serious injuries, living allowances, housing contents aid, and socio-economic recovery support.
“During the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase, there are bereavement payments for the families of the deceased and those with serious injuries. Secondly, there are living allowances, housing contents support, and as the Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian has already mentioned, socio-economic recovery assistance,” he said.
He noted that the data presented is still provisional and will subsequently be reconciled with the unified dataset established by the government.
“For instance, the figure of 513 has risen to 562 — that is the data for bereaved families. Then more than 133,000 households are recipients of housing contents aid and economic stimulus assistance,” he said.
“As for living allowances, that covers more than 473,000 individuals. We have already begun distributing payments for bereaved families, housing contents, and living allowances. This will be followed by economic and social recovery support. We are following the BNPB’s distribution schedule — BNPB disbursed last week, and we will follow shortly after,” he continued.
He said that to date, 29 of 53 regencies and municipalities have been validated. He noted that the total budget required amounts to more than Rp 2 trillion.
“Twenty-nine of 53 regencies and municipalities have been validated by the Ministry of Home Affairs and are ready for disbursement. Our total budget requirement will exceed Rp 2 trillion,” he said.
Furthermore, Gus Ipul said that part of the budget is already available, funded through a special Presidential directive output detail policy.
“More than Rp 600 billion is already prepared using a special output detail under a Presidential directive,” he said.
He confirmed that his ministry has disbursed more than Rp 14 billion in bereavement payments for the families of deceased victims. Living allowances have also been distributed to four regencies.
“More than Rp 14 billion has been disbursed for 990 deceased victims, at Rp 15 million per deceased individual,” Gus Ipul said.
“Living allowances have also begun to be distributed, particularly to four regencies: Bener Meriah, Central Aceh, Padang Sidempuan, and Padang Panjang. The value exceeds Rp 20 billion, and starting today we are also distributing to data that has been verified and validated,” he continued.
Meanwhile, he said, housing contents assistance that has been validated and is ready for disbursement amounts to Rp 98 billion. This will benefit more than 32,000 families.
“This is the housing contents assistance that has been validated and is ready for disbursement. The value exceeds Rp 98 billion for more than 32,000 beneficiary families, spanning Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra Province,” he said.