KBRN, Jakarta: Indonesia expressed its deep condolences for the devastating floods and landslides that struck Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, reaffirming its commitment to supporting affected communities. As part of its rapid-response measures, the Ministry of Culture announced humanitarian assistance for impacted residents, a statement delivered during a media briefing at the Ministry’s Building E in Senayan, Jakarta,Thursday, (12/4/2025).

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon conveyed his sympathy for the loss of life, cultural assets, and community facilities across the disaster zones. He emphasized that the Ministry has mobilized internal resources to provide immediate aid for both cultural workers and damaged heritage sites.

“We have collectively raised around 1.5 billion rupiah, which will be distributed through the Cultural Preservation Offices in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra,” Minister Fadli stated. He explained that the assistance supports early mitigation efforts and ensures the protection of priority heritage assets.

The Minister confirmed that joint teams have been deployed to conduct rapid field assessments in affected regions. Their tasks include evaluating physical damages, determining conservation urgency, and securing movable artifacts to prevent further deterioration.

“Many cultural heritage sites have suffered significant impacts, and our Cultural Preservation Offices continue to serve as the frontline for documentation and verification,” Fadli added. He underscored that safeguarding cultural heritage remains a fundamental responsibility as Indonesia strengthens its global cultural diplomacy.

The Ministry is coordinating closely with local governments and national agencies to streamline data collection and accelerate cultural emergency response. Officials stressed that collaboration across institutions is essential to ensure effective and well-targeted recovery interventions.

Preliminary assessments recorded 43 damaged cultural heritage sites, including Tjong A Fie Mansion, the Bukit Kerang archaeological complex, the Tengku Di Kila Mosque, and the Sawahlunto–Teluk Bayur Railway corridor. Aceh reported the highest number of affected sites, highlighting the scale of cultural vulnerability in the region.

Senior officials attending the briefing included Deputy Minister of Culture Giring Ganesha and multiple director generals responsible for cultural protection, development, and international cooperation. Their presence reinforced Indonesia’s broader vision of promoting cultural resilience “from Indonesia to the world.”

Closing the briefing, Minister Fadli urged the public to continue supporting cultural recovery and preservation efforts across the disaster-hit provinces. “We remain committed to protecting cultural sites, artifacts, and cultural workers by working closely with all partners to ensure swift and effective intervention,” he concluded.