Presidential Assistance Continues, Aceh's Meugang Tradition Remains Alive After Sumatran Floods
Flood survivors in Aceh can once again enjoy meat to welcome Eid al-Fitr in the coming days. President Prabowo Subianto has heeded the request of the Aceh Provincial Government by channelling further aid to support the meugang tradition in Aceh.
According to a report from the Task Force for Acceleration of Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (Satgas PRR) submitted to Tempo on Tuesday, 17 March 2026, a list of assistance has been compiled for 19 regencies and municipalities in Aceh. The total aid disbursed in this second phase reaches 72.75 billion rupiah, matching the amount of the first assistance at the beginning of last Ramadan.
The funds are allocated to reach a total of 1,455 villages scattered across the affected areas. Several regions with the largest distribution of recipient villages include North Aceh Regency with 391 villages, followed by Aceh Tamiang Regency with 210 villages, and Central Aceh Regency with 161 villages. All funds are transferred directly to the Regional General Treasury Account (RKUD) of each area through Bank Aceh Syariah.
This scheme enables residents to maintain the meugang tradition—cooking and sharing meat ahead of the holiday—during the recovery process following the major flooding of last November.
The disbursement ahead of Eid al-Fitr represents a continuation of President Prabowo’s earlier assistance. At the beginning of Ramadan in February 2026, the central government had already released an equivalent amount of 72.72 billion rupiah. The assistance was provided in the form of fund transfers from the President through the Presidential Secretariat to local governments for the purchase of meugang cattle. In total, the funds disbursed for the people of Aceh across these two assistance packages amount to 145.5 billion rupiah.
When Satgas PRR Chief Tito Karnavian visited the Grand Mosque of Baiturrahman in Banda Aceh at the beginning of Ramadan, his arrival was greeted with joy by the Acehnese people, as he represented a government that listened to the affected community.
Aceh Vice Governor Fadhlullah also appreciated the arrival of government assistance, enabling the community to continue celebrating the meugang tradition. “Alhamdulillah, the President has approved the request from the Aceh Government and the Acehnese people for beef meugang assistance,” said Fadhlullah, quoted from a video by the Aceh Provincial Government.
However, he requested that the central government provide further assistance when welcoming Eid al-Fitr. “It is obligatory that assistance for meugang be provided again. It would feel incomplete if it were given once and not a second time,” Fadhlullah remarked.
Tito Karnavian, who also serves as Minister of Home Affairs, fully understands the needs of disaster-affected Acehnese communities. He recalled frequently conducting inspection tours of recovery efforts together with Fadhlullah to villages and surrounding settlements.
“He (Fadhlullah) always reminds me that this meugang tradition is very important, sacred,” said Tito. “So we have to be able to convince the President to provide the second assistance.”
This hope was eventually fulfilled with the disbursement of the second assistance ahead of Eid this month through the President’s Social Assistance Expenditure Fund. Even to welcome the second disbursement, the Southwest Aceh Regency Government has issued an official circular stating that the implementation of meugang to welcome Eid al-Fitr is set for 18 March 2026.
In this policy, the Southwest Aceh Regency Government regulates slaughtering and meat sales points, and requires each livestock animal to have a health certificate to ensure the annual tradition takes place safely and in an orderly manner.
Celebrated Since the Sultanate Era
According to the Aceh Culture website, the meugang tradition has existed since the period of the Aceh Darussalam Sultanate, particularly during the era of Sultan Iskandar Muda (1607–1636). During that time, the ruler ordered the slaughter of large numbers of animals and distributed the meat to the people, especially the poor, as a form of gratitude for prosperity and as a demonstration of social care.
This tradition did not cease even after the Sultanate fell. After Aceh was conquered by the Dutch in 1873, the practice of distribution from the palace did indeed end, but the community continued to maintain it as a collective tradition. From what was originally based on royal decree, meugang transformed into a social initiative of the residents. Each family sought to slaughter or purchase meat to be distributed and enjoyed together.
The spirit of meat distribution by rulers during the sultanate era is now seemingly revived by the central government through beef meugang assistance. Moreover, the assistance is provided during post-disaster recovery.
The region known as the “Porch of Mecca” also strongly upholds Islamic traditions, so assistance provided at two moments—the beginning of Ramadan and ahead of Eid al-Fitr—demonstrates that recovery focuses not only on physical reconstruction but also on preserving the social life of the community.