Government Confirms Rp20 Billion Aid for NTT Earthquake Response Has Been Disbursed

President Prabowo Subianto has received a report that aid amounting to Rp20 billion for each disaster-affected district in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) has been disbursed and received by local governments.

During a post-earthquake coordination meeting at the evacuation post at the 834/Wakanga Mere Territorial Development Battalion headquarters in Tonggurambang Village, Mbay, Nagekeo Regency, NTT, Prabowo asked the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Suharyanto, about the aid provided to earthquake-affected districts.

“Has the Rp20 billion aid for each affected district arrived?” Prabowo asked on Wednesday, 26 August 2026.

Suharyanto confirmed that the aid had been received and had been conveyed to each district head.

“It has arrived. We have also informed the regents that the aid must not be used for anything other than disaster response,” Suharyanto said.

On the same occasion, NTT Governor Melki Laka Lena explained that the aid was provided to all districts on Flores Island.

In addition, the NTT provincial government has also received aid amounting to Rp40 billion.

“Mr President, we have received the aid. All districts on Flores Island received Rp20 billion and the province received Rp40 billion,” Melki said.

According to him, the aid has greatly helped local governments strengthen disaster response and meet the needs of displaced residents.

Melki also expressed appreciation that East Flores Regency received aid even though the area was not included among the earthquake-affected regions.

Nevertheless, East Flores is currently still dealing with the impact of the Lewotobi volcano eruption, which has been ongoing for approximately two years.

“They also received it because they were affected by Lewotobi, Mr President. The Lewotobi eruption has been going on for two years, and I extend special thanks because they were not included but still received it,” he said.

In addition to government aid, he said the NTT provincial government is mobilising support from the public and businesses to ensure the basic needs of disaster-affected residents continue to be met.

The local government has asked shops and kiosks in affected areas to help provide community necessities such as food, drinks, blankets and mats. The cost of this assistance will be borne by the local government.