Indonesia Allocates USD 1.15 Million for Aceh Disaster Recovery

RRI.CO.ID, Banda Aceh- The Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia has allocated approximately USD 1.15 million in disaster relief assistance to support the recovery of religious and educational facilities affected by hydrometeorological disasters in Aceh Province. The funding is being distributed during the emergency response period to ensure the continuity of public and educational services.

The assistance is managed through the Ministry’s Regional Office in Aceh based on data collection and a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (JITUPASNA). The mechanism is intended to ensure that aid distribution corresponds to verified needs in affected areas.

Head of the 2025 Hydrometeorological Disaster Emergency Response Team of the Aceh Regional Office, Khairul Azhar, said around USD 262,000 of the total funds is directly managed by the regional office. “We are using it to support the procurement of logistics, cleaning equipment, volunteer operations, Starlink satellite internet devices, as well as assistance for affected students,” Khairul said in Banda Aceh, Monday, 16 February 2026.

Meanwhile, approximately USD 885,000 has been transferred directly by the ministry to beneficiary institutions. The funds were distributed to 131 private madrasahs and 18 Islamic boarding schools, each receiving approximately USD 5,900.

Khairul explained that the USD 262,000 allocation is focused on addressing immediate priorities in the field. “We are prioritizing the most pressing needs while ensuring the continuity of education and public services in the aftermath of the disaster,” he said.

He detailed that around USD 77,000 was allocated to district and municipal Religious Affairs Offices for emergency logistics, field operations, and direct assistance. In addition, about USD 14,500 was used for basic necessities, USD 4,200 for communication devices and satellite internet, USD 10,200 for volunteer operations, and approximately USD 940 for transportation and distribution costs.

“We distributed the funds based on reports from affected regions and coordination with disaster response teams,” Khairul said. The ministry also provided cash assistance totaling approximately USD 140,000 to 11,772 students of state and private Islamic higher education institutions, with each student receiving about USD 12.

Beyond cash assistance, the Aceh regional office facilitated the distribution of goods to 169 state madrasahs and delivered 5,000 copies of the Quran to several districts and municipalities. The ministry recorded 1,842 affected facilities across Aceh, with the highest level of damage reported in North Aceh, while around USD 15,000 remains in the disaster response account to support further recovery efforts.