Six Free Nutritious Meal Kitchens on Simeulue Island Cease Operations

The National Nutrition Agency (BGN) in Simeulue Regency has announced that six Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) under the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme in the island regency of Aceh have temporarily ceased operations.

Elysa Wulandari, the regional coordinator for BGN Simeulue, stated on Tuesday that the suspension of these six SPPGs is due to the fact that the budget has not yet been disbursed by the central National Nutrition Agency.

The six units that have halted operations are SPPG Simeulue Timur Lugu, SPPG Simeulue Timur Ameria Bahagia, SPPG Simeulue Timur Suka Jaya, SPPG Simeulue Cut Latak Aya, SPPG Teupah Selatan Labuhan Bakti, and SPPG Simeulue Barat Layabaung.

Ms Wulandari noted that the operational halt in several locations across Simeulue Regency has been in effect since Monday (8/6). The suspension is intended to be only temporary.

Operations will remain suspended until the operational funds are transferred to the respective virtual accounts of each SPPG by the central BGN. Once the funds are received, the units will resume their activities as usual.

“As of today, these six SPPGs are still awaiting operational budgets from the central BGN. Once the budget arrives, the SPPGs will return to operating as normal,” said Elysa Wulandari.

Simeulue Regency is an outermost island territory in the province of Aceh. Simeulue Island is located in the Indian Ocean, approximately 180 nautical miles from the western coast of Sumatra.

Simeulue Regency was carved out from West Aceh Regency in 1999. The regency comprises 10 districts and 138 gampongs (villages), with a population of approximately 96,000 people.