Social Affairs Ministry confirms Rp1 trillion funds ready for Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Social Affairs has confirmed readiness of disaster-relief funds amounting to more than Rp1 trillion to speed up recovery after disasters in three provinces: Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

The Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos), Saifullah Yusuf, in Jakarta, on Wednesday, said that the continuation of disaster-handling disbursements is targeted to begin next week through the Sumatra Post-Disaster Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Acceleration Task Force (Satgas Percepatan Rehabilitasi dan Rekonstruksi Pascabencana Sumatera).

Previously, the Ministry received assignments to bolster aid including death compensation for families/heirs, serious-injury compensation worth Rp5 million, then there is social-economic stimulus assistance, housing filling, and life insurance for three months.

Saifullah emphasised that all processes of disbursement must be based on tiered data proposed by regional governments, then final verification by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) to maintain accountability.

In addition to funds, the meeting discussed proposals to expand the scope of participation in Health Insurance Premium Assistance (PBI JK) recipients for Aceh people directly affected by natural disasters.

Meanwhile, Aceh Deputy Governor Fadhlullah hopes the special Additional Budget for Aceh amounting to Rp1,039,210,800,000 can be realised by the central government to spur regional economic recovery.

“For Aceh there is more than Rp1 trillion so that it can be disbursed as soon as possible,” he said. “so they can receive it and there can be rapid economic growth in Aceh.” He revealed that socio-economic conditions in Aceh have deteriorated sharply after the floods and landslides at the end of 2025.

Although not detailing the exact amount, the Aceh Provincial Government reported that many local residents who previously belonged to the established or high-decile 8, 9, and 10 have dropped drastically to decile 2 according to the National Socio-Economic Data (DTSEN).

“The disaster impacts have caused poverty levels to rise in Aceh,” he said.