TNI and Polri Deployed, Students in Conflict-Prone Areas to Still Receive Free Nutritious Meals
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN), Sudaryono, has confirmed that the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme will continue to reach children in conflict-prone areas. The agency is currently preparing a special mechanism to ensure the distribution of nutritional aid can still be carried out in hard-to-reach regions.
Sudaryono stated that the scheme is already being tested in several areas through cooperation with the TNI and Polri, including the use of public facilities such as churches as distribution points. “MBG for children in conflict-prone areas. We are currently thinking about the mechanism. There are several pilot projects we have carried out, working with the TNI and Polri, using facilities, including churches and others. Because children everywhere, especially in Indonesia, particularly those in need in conflict-prone and remote areas, must also get access to nutritional improvements that they really need,” Sudaryono said during a press conference at the BGN Office, Jakarta, Wednesday (29/7/2026).
The statement was made in response to social media scrutiny regarding the minimal number of Nutritional Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG) operating in Papua, despite the region having a relatively high stunting rate. Responding to this, Sudaryono emphasised that BGN is not only prioritising Papua but also other regions such as East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and Maluku. According to him, the government has mapped out areas requiring attention so that the expansion of MBG services is carried out based on the level of urgency.
“Regarding Papua at 1% and others, not just Papua, but there is NTT, then Maluku, everywhere, this has all been mapped, we want to improve things there. We want to fix what is important and urgent to fix,” he said. With this mapping, BGN hopes the expansion of SPPG operations can be more targeted, ensuring that children in remote areas, regions with high stunting prevalence, and conflict-prone zones still receive access to the Free Nutritious Meal Programme.