Social Affairs Ministry sends Rp609 million aid to NTT disaster survivors
Indonesia’s Ministry of Social Affairs has delivered Rp609.08 million in cash aid, relief goods and rehabilitation support to earthquake survivors and other disaster-affected residents in four districts of East Nusa Tenggara, during a…
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· Event date: · 4 min read
Labuan Bajo — Indonesia’s Ministry of Social Affairs has distributed assistance worth about Rp609.08 million to people affected by the recent earthquake and related disasters in West Manggarai, Manggarai, Ngada and Nagekeo, East Nusa Tenggara, during a joint social activity in Labuan Bajo on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, according to national broadcaster RRI and Detik.com.
The symbolic handover took place in Labuan Bajo and involved the ministry’s Dharma Wanita Persatuan along with several women’s and community organisations. Advisers and volunteers focused on reaching survivors of earthquakes, floods and fires, with priority given to orphans, persons with disabilities and older residents. RRI reported that the overall activity targeted around 400 beneficiaries in the four districts.
Cash aid and relief goods
According to RRI, the ministry’s package included Rp609.08 million in combined support, made up of cash assistance, food supplies, school equipment and social rehabilitation items. The cash components comprised death benefits for two heirs of people who died, at Rp15 million each, and support for 58 people who suffered serious injuries, totalling Rp450 million.
RRI and Detik.com reported that the aid also included 300 food packages and 200 school-equipment packages for families affected by the disasters. In addition, the ministry channelled assistance under its Asistensi Rehabilitasi Sosial (ATENSI) programme, including extra nutrition packages and hygiene kits for vulnerable groups. RRI noted that the overall Rp609.08 million figure covers the cash transfers as well as the food, school and ATENSI components, though it did not break down the value of each non-cash item.
Separate RRI coverage on the ATENSI activities in Labuan Bajo stated that the ministry delivered two wheelchairs for people with cerebral palsy, nine hearing aids, and additional nutrition and hygiene packages as part of the same social action. These items were aimed at older residents and people with disabilities who had been affected by the earthquake and other hazards.
Psychosocial support for children
RRI reported that the event included trauma-healing activities for children, combining games and small gifts to create a more supportive environment for young survivors. Fatma Saifullah Yusuf, an adviser to the ministry’s Dharma Wanita Persatuan, said the assistance was intended not only to ease the economic burden on affected households but also to provide moral and psychosocial support to children living through the disaster.
Tribunnews quoted Fatma as emphasising the importance of this “moral support” in helping children recover mentally and feel healthier, noting that the presence and care of volunteers were meant to show solidarity and compassion. These activities formed part of the broader social programme accompanying the material assistance.
Partner organisations and additional support
RRI and Tribunnews reported that several organisations supported the wider activity alongside the ministry, including Rotary Club of Jakarta Menteng, Palapa Peduli NTT, the local cricket association, the Indonesian Women Entrepreneurs Association (IWAPI) and student association PMKRI. Their contributions were recorded separately from the ministry’s Rp609.08 million package.
Tribunnews detailed that Palapa Peduli NTT, led by Hetty Andika Perkasa, provided about Rp82 million in support for earthquake survivors in Labuan Bajo, combining ready-to-eat food worth Rp36 million, cash assistance of Rp21 million and sembako packages totalling Rp25 million. RRI noted that other community and women’s groups also brought additional food, cash and basic items to reinforce the ministry’s official aid.
While the combined value of the ministry’s and partner organisations’ assistance was significant, available reports did not specify how much of the Rp609.08 million was allocated to each district, nor the exact monetary value assigned to each food or school-supply package. The ministry stated that its field teams would continue distributing the aid to affected communities after the symbolic ceremony in Labuan Bajo.
Sources
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