Government Deploys Ready-to-Use Funds And 40 Tons Of Aid For Sumatra Disaster Response

Jakarta - The Indonesian government has initiated a comprehensive national response to the catastrophic floods and landslides that struck Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. With the death toll exceeding 750 and hundreds still missing, the administration of President Prabowo Subianto has activated Ready-to-Use Funds (Dana Siap Pakai) and mobilized cross-ministerial logistics to address what officials are treating as a national priority. President Prabowo has instructed all relevant ministries and agencies to be "extra responsive and focused" on victim rescue, aid distribution, and facility recovery.

A key component of the immediate response is the deployment of substantial financial reserves. Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi confirmed that approximately Rp 500 billion in Ready-to-Use Funds from the state budget is available for disaster management. This fund is specifically designated for use during the emergency response period, requiring speed and immediate availability. President Prabowo has further instructed that this budget be increased if necessary to meet the scale of the crisis.

Concurrently, the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, led by Minister Airlangga Hartarto, has dispatched approximately 40 tons of humanitarian aid. The aid package, consisting of food, drink, and medical equipment, was handed over to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) at Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase in Jakarta for distribution to the three affected provinces. This shipment was made possible through a collaboration between the ministry and private sector stakeholders and donors.

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The BNPB, tasked with leading the operational distribution, is employing land, sea, and air routes to reach isolated areas. Deputy for System and Strategy at BNPB, Raditya Jati, stated that priority aid is being dispatched based on urgent needs identified in the disaster zones. This logistical challenge is compounded by widespread infrastructure damage that has severed access to many locations, making the airlift of supplies critical.

In a show of solidarity, Minister Airlangga Hartarto expressed the government's deepest condolences for the lives lost. "This grief is our shared grief, the grief of our nation and homeland," he stated, echoing the sentiments of other officials. The government's actions aim not only to fulfill urgent needs and smooth the disaster management process but also to strengthen all parties working to restore conditions after the disaster.

The scale of the tragedy is immense. According to the latest data from the BNPB, the disasters have resulted in 753 fatalities, 650 missing persons, and 2,600 injured. The economic cost is also projected to be severe, with one economic research institute estimating losses could reach Rp 68.67 trillion. This has prompted concerns about its impact on national economic growth targets for the year.

While the government asserts it is mobilizing maximum central resources, the disaster has sparked calls from civil society groups and organizations like the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) for President Prabowo to formally declare a "national disaster" status. They argue that such a designation would maximize resource mobilization, centralize command under BNPB, and provide a clearer legal framework for international aid, which the government has currently stated is not yet needed.

The government emphasizes that the current response, underpinned by the Ready-to-Use Funds and multi-sector aid, demonstrates its capacity to manage the crisis. The focus remains on the urgent phases of search and rescue and logistical delivery, with a commitment to subsequent rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the devastated provinces.

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Airlangga Hartarto BNPB Disaster Response Humanitarian Aid Prabowo Subianto Ready-to-use Funds Sumatra Floods