Indonesia Extends Rice Aid to Help Millions Cope with El Niño and Volcanic Eruptions

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The Indonesian government will extend its emergency food assistance program by providing 30 kilograms of rice per household to help families deal with extreme weather and recent volcanic eruptions. President Prabowo Subianto ordered the aid extension following a high-level meeting in Jakarta on Monday, September 7, 2026.

"The President directed that the rice assistance, which currently runs through September, will continue into October, November, and December," Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto stated.

He said that the decision directly responds to growing concerns over food security across several provinces. Beyond severe weather, the Indonesian government is actively tracking economic contraction in areas disrupted by volcanic activity.

"We are currently monitoring the impact of 5 to 6 active volcanoes in Indonesia," the Minister added.

He noted that community movement has dropped sharply due to ongoing safety alerts. The eruptions have also severely affected regional supply chains and disrupted national transportation networks.

"Logistics in the aviation sector have already been disrupted, which directly impacts cargo transportation," he affirmed.

He confirmed that authorities are continuously assessing how long aviation restrictions will remain in place. To ensure effective relief, government agencies are gathering field data to maintain economic stability while helping affected residents.