Indonesia sets Rp15m–Rp30m repair grants for NTT quake-damaged homes

Labuan Bajo — — Indonesia is preparing housing assistance for residents whose homes were damaged by the recent magnitude 7.7 earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara, with planned repair grants of Rp15 million for lightly damaged houses and Rp30 million for moderately damaged houses, according to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) and other government statements issued in late August 2026.

The financial support is designed as a stimulus for repairs rather than full reconstruction. According to BNPB officials, the grant level will depend on the damage category assigned to each home after government-led assessments are completed.

Houses categorized as severely damaged will not receive the same repair grants. Instead, central government officials say severely damaged homes will be addressed through new permanent housing or reconstruction schemes managed with line ministries and local governments.

How the housing grants are structured

BNPB’s acting head of the Data, Information and Disaster Communication Center, Berton SP Panjaitan, said in a 26 August 2026 press briefing that the stimulus grants will be set at Rp15 million for light damage and Rp30 million for moderate damage, with separate treatment for severe damage.

The proposed bands are:

• Light damage: Rp15 million per home in repair assistance.
• Moderate damage: Rp30 million per home in repair assistance.
• Severe damage: reconstruction or replacement housing, with support value to follow applicable housing and budgeting standards.

BNPB and the Ministry of Home Affairs have described the scheme as part of a broader government housing response for earthquake survivors. Officials have also indicated that assistance for severely damaged houses could reach several tens of millions of rupiah per unit under separate reconstruction programs.

These grants are framed as stimulus funding, meaning they are intended to help residents repair their homes rather than cover every cost. Government statements emphasize that the exact implementation will be coordinated with provincial and district authorities.

Assessments underpinning eligibility

BNPB says teams have been deployed to affected districts to survey and verify housing damage. The agency has reported tens of thousands of houses damaged across categories of light, moderate and severe, and describes the ongoing verification as the basis for allocating repair grants and reconstruction support.

According to BNPB, field teams use standardized technical guidance to classify each structure’s damage level. The resulting database is expected to list affected residents by name and address and categorize homes by damage level, providing a common reference for ministries and local governments when planning housing assistance.

Officials have said that local governments will play a key role in confirming the final list of beneficiaries and determining which households qualify for repair grants or for reconstruction and relocation schemes.

Next steps for affected residents

Central government officials have stated that assistance will be provided once verification of damaged houses is completed and local regulations or implementing rules are issued. They have urged residents to cooperate with survey teams and to follow guidance from district and village authorities regarding registration and documentation.

In addition to housing repair and reconstruction support, BNPB has also highlighted temporary shelter options, including either waiting-housing allowances or the use of temporary housing units, to accommodate families while permanent homes are rebuilt.

For households deciding whether to repair, relocate or rebuild, the damage classification assigned through these assessments will be decisive, as it determines not only the size of any grant but also whether a home is treated as repairable or eligible for replacement housing.

Sources

• Media Indonesia
• MetroTV News
• Investor Daily
• IDN Times