Rp 559.95 Billion Stimulus Funds Disbursed in Aceh: The Story of Tamiang Residents Utilising Home Repair Assistance

The sound of a hammer still echoes in the home of Marimin, 56, as he installs a door to his house in Suka Mulia Upah Village, Banda Mulia Subdistrict, Aceh Tamiang Regency. New asbestos sheets cover the roof, while the unpainted cement walls indicate that the repairs are nearly complete.

A survivor of the November 2025 flash floods finally received Rp 15 million in stimulus aid for minor home damage a week before Eid al-Fitr 1447 Hijriah. “We didn’t handle the money directly. We shopped for materials at the building supply store, then the officials transferred the payment to the store,” Marimin told Tempo on Wednesday, 13 May 2026.

The use of aid funds not in cash form is also acknowledged by Mardiansyah, who received Rp 30 million stimulus because his house falls into the moderate damage category. According to the 45-year-old man, the aid mechanism operates through coordination between village officials, banks, and local building supply stores.

Residents shop for building materials independently, while payments are made directly by the bank to the store. “We hold the shopping receipts as proof of claim, which is later submitted to BPBD through village officials,” he said. “There are no deductions; everything we buy matches the aid amount.”

Another recipient, Suwadi, is also nearly finishing his home repairs. Materials such as cement, tiles, and plywood have been installed. However, he is still awaiting the disbursement of the remaining 20 percent of the aid. “Now we’re just waiting for the remaining funds to be released to pay the workers. We hope it can be done soon because it’s really needed,” said the 60-year-old man.

This phased disbursement mechanism refers to Ministry of Home Affairs Decision Number 300.2.8-168 of 2026 on Technical Guidelines for Assistance in Repairing and Building Homes for Communities Affected by Disasters in the Provinces of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra for the 2026 Fiscal Year.

In the regulation, disbursements are carried out in stages, including a scheme of 80 percent and 20 percent, adjusted to the condition of home damage and work progress. In addition to regulating the aid disbursement mechanism, the central government is also pushing to accelerate the verification and distribution process for home rehabilitation aid.

Spokesperson for the Aceh Tamiang Regency Government, Muhammad Farij, said the implementation follows the decision letter. “The local government does not handle the aid funds directly. Our role is more in data collection, verification, and proposing beneficiaries so that the aid is on target,” he said.

He added that the public is free to choose material stores without specific recommendations from the government. Building material prices follow each store’s rates. There must be no deductions from the aid funds in any form, and there is no political intervention in the distribution process.

The total number of recipients of stimulus aid for home repairs in the minor and moderate damage categories in Aceh Tamiang reaches 7,737 units. “For SK 1 home repair stimulus aid, there are 5,141 units, with 2,337 units in the moderate damage category and 2,804 units in the minor damage category,” said Farij.

Of the total, around 3,767 units have entered the CMS system, and 1,096 accounts have had their blocks lifted. The first phase distribution areas cover Kota Kualasimpang Subdistrict, Kejuruan Muda, Karang Baru, Manyak Payed, Banda Mulia, Sekerak, Seruway, Bendahara, and Tamiang Hulu Subdistricts.

Currently, the Aceh Tamiang Regency Government has proposed second-phase aid for 5,900 home units covering minor, moderate, and severe damage categories. For severely damaged homes, aid will be provided in the form of permanent housing or Huntap.

Head of the Task Force for Accelerating Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sumatra, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, distributed home repair aid to residents affected by hydrometeorological disasters in Aceh and North Sumatra on Saturday, 25 April 2026. Doc. Kemendagri

The high disbursement of aid in Aceh aligns with data from the Task Force for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (Satgas PRR). Based on the report as of 11 May 2026, the number of minor damaged homes that have received aid in Aceh increased from 12,856 units in April to 15,192 units a month later. The government has allocated at least Rp 559.95 billion for recovery in the province.

In North Sumatra, aid progress has also increased sharply. The number of minor damaged homes handled rose from 1,234 units to 2,332 units, with budget realisation reaching Rp 71.82 billion. Meanwhile, in West Sumatra, the government has handled 811 minor damaged homes and 375 moderate damaged homes with a total budget of Rp 23.41 billion.

Head of the Task Force for Accelerating Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in Sumatra, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, said accelerating home repairs is one of the government’s main focuses in recovery efforts in Sumatra. “Accelerating home repairs and construction, including relocation, temporary housing, and permanent housing, is the key to reducing the number of displaced people,” Tito said during a coordination meeting last January.

He also assured that the acceleration will continue and its impact will be felt by residents. “The government will continue to work hard until all areas are truly restored to their original state,” he said.