Government Distributes Rp967.5 Billion in Stimulus Aid for Sumatra Recovery

The government, through the Ministry of Social Affairs, has again distributed additional aid worth Rp967.5 billion to support the socio-economic recovery phase for survivors of flash floods and landslides in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra provinces. Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf stated during a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday that this stimulus budget allocation represents the ninth distribution list period, aimed at medium-term emergency management in 10 affected districts and cities across the three provinces. “Today we are distributing aid for the Sumatra disaster in 10 districts. The amount we are distributing this time is nearly Rp1 trillion, and it will continue in the next period once secondary data collection is completed,” he said. Saifullah explained that the humanitarian budget intervention is distributed to more than 82,000 beneficiaries through PT Pos Indonesia services to ensure speed and accuracy of delivery in areas far from city centres. The stimulus package is provided in the form of permanent housing contents, a three-month living allowance, and a communal economic strengthening programme through economic stimulus funds. Spatially, this recovery intervention targets six districts and cities in Aceh Province, including Aceh Tamiang, East Aceh, Bireuen, Gayo Lues, and Pidie Jaya regencies, as well as the administrative area of Langsa City. Furthermore, the allocation is directed to three areas in North Sumatra Province, namely South Tapanuli, Central Tapanuli regencies, and Sibolga City, as well as Padang Pariaman Regency in West Sumatra Province. The Ministry of Social Affairs’ Data and Information Centre confirmed, based on data from the Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Task Force for Sumatra, that the largest allocation for this phase is directed to Aceh Tamiang Regency, amounting to Rp448.2 billion for 39,103 families, followed by Langsa City with Rp374.6 billion to support 31,772 affected families. Saifullah emphasised that all family-based target data is based on official proposals from local governments, which have been rigorously validated by the Task Force together with the Central Statistics Agency. “The Ministry of Social Affairs ensures that social service personnel in the regions will continue to conduct regular monitoring and evaluation after distribution, so that the stimulus funds are used productively to restore the economic resilience of disaster victim families,” said Saifullah, who was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Social Affairs Agus Jabo.