Government Disburses Three Types of Funds for Sumatra Disaster Victims

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government, through the Ministry of Social Affairs, has begun distributing three types of adaptive disaster social assistance funds totaling Rp878.6 billion to communities affected by flash floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf, speaking in Jakarta on Thursday, said the distribution is underway, involving PT Pos Indonesia officers stationed in the three provinces. He explained that the assistance now being distributed comprises the Housing Completion Assistance (BIH) of Rp3 million and the Socio-Economic Stimulus Assistance (BSSE) of Rp5 million for affected families to help restore post-disaster livelihoods. Based on data verified by central and local governments, 67,886 beneficiary families (KPM) are eligible to receive BIH and BSSE with a total budget of Rp543.08 billion. In addition, the government is also disbursing a living allowance to 248,588 affected individuals at Rp450,000 per person per month for three months, with a total budget of Rp335.5 billion. “They are partly regular social assistance beneficiaries, but there are also new recipients; a detailed data collection is currently underway,” Saifullah said. He added that the delivery of adaptive disaster assistance allocated to the Ministry of Social Affairs is done in stages based on data verified by local governments, known to the State Prosecutor’s Office and the local regional police chief, and approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs. A similar approach has been used for the previous adaptive disaster assistance in the three provinces for the cluster of compensation to the deceased and injured victims totaling Rp17 billion, followed by logistics support during the emergency response phase totaling Rp117 billion. “The data verification process for beneficiaries is conducted to ensure that aid is delivered swiftly, accurately targeted, and while upholding prudence and accountability,” he said.