The Sumatra Disaster Threatens Regional Food Security

JAKARTA Indonesia is quite often hit by disasters, such as floods and landslides, so the authorities in power should prepare their food needs properly so that there is no shortage of food in disaster areas.

Disasters in a number of areas in the provinces of West Sumatra, North Sumatra, and Aceh threaten food supply. According to observers, the looting of minimarkets and Perum Bulog warehouses was caused by late assistance. In addition, thousands of hectares of agricultural land were also inundated and damaged by floods.

In the midst of recovery efforts in disaster areas, bad news broke out, where the refugees began to hunger because food distribution was hampered. As a result, there was a burglary and looting of minimarkets in Central Tapanuli, North Sumatra, after a flash flood hit the area.

The looting also occurred in Bulog's rice and cooking oil storage warehouses in Pidie, Aceh, and Sarudik Sibolga, Central Tapanuli, North Sumatra.

Incidents of fighting and looting of rice in Central Tapanuli even claimed lives, as referred to by the Regent of Central Tapanuli, Masinton Psaribu. He said, a mother died, and her child was undergoing treatment due to this incident.

The distribution of logistics and basic necessities to Pupuk Iskandar Muda Port in order to support the handling of flash floods and landslides that hit various areas in Sumatra. (ANTARA/HO-Pertamina) (ANTARA/HO-Pertamina)

The management of the Indonesian Agricultural Economic Association (Perhepi) Khudori emphasized that disasters in three provinces in Sumatra this time provide important lessons, how urgent the local government's food reserves are, regardless of the amount, a week, 10 days or a month of consumption needs.

"When an emergency situation due to a disaster occurs and the distribution of goods is hampered, reserves in the area can be moved immediately," Khudori said in a statement received by VOI.

The news of the rice struggle that occurred in Central Tapanuli was widely circulated on social media. Rice looting in Bulog's warehouse also occurred in minimarkets. In the video circulating, a man who apologized for taking a number of food at the minimarket for his three children who were starving went viral on social media.

Meanwhile, other news said that survivors in other areas were also running out of food. Markets and stalls are almost all closed. In addition to urgent food needs, residents also experience a clean water crisis.

The flash floods and landslides that hit Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra need to be a major concern. This disaster has great potential to disrupt food security in the three regions due to crop failure and production decline.

Thousands of hectares of rice fields in a number of districts were flooded. The Padang Pariaman Regency Government, West Sumatra, reported that 341 hectares of rice fields and 106 ha of corn lands were flooded. The potential loss, not including damaged irrigation, is around Rp. 13 billion.

Reports of affected areas were also submitted by the North Aceh, Agam, and Mandailing Natal Regency Governments. Sawah affected by the disaster in North Aceh, Agam, and Mandailing Natal covering an area of 616 hectares, 31.8 hectares, and 2,830.11 hectares, respectively.

Late food distributions due to difficult terrain can trigger food insecurity, spikes in basic food prices, and social turmoil, such as looting of minimarkets and Bulog warehouses.

Khudori assessed that the looting of minimarkets and Bulog warehouses in Sibolga and its surroundings occurred due to delays in aid logistics due to isolated areas.

"The floods and landslides that occurred not only claimed many lives and injuries, but also damaged road infrastructure. When the road is broken or damaged, logistics distribution is disrupted," he said.

Given that floods and landslides occur quite often in Indonesia, this should make the authorities in power aware to prepare something well. "It is proven that this time the authorities in power seem overwhelmed in facing the situation on the ground," Khudori added.

Khudori also criticized the government's distribution of aid or rice reserves (CBP) for disasters and emergencies quite long. Government food reserves (CPP) for handling emergency disasters have been regulated in the National Food Agency Regulation Number 30 of 2023 concerning CPP Distribution to Overcome Disasters and Emergency Situations.

This rule is longer than regulated in the Minister of Social Affairs Regulation Number 22 of 2019. As a result, because the procedure is more complicated and convoluted, the process of distributing CBP to the community becomes slower.

Khudori assessed that the bureaucratic nuances of distribution procedures for disasters were quite thick compared to the previous distribution mechanism regulated in the Minister of Social Regulation No. 22/2019 concerning Procedures and Mechanisms for Distribution of Government Rice Reserves (CBP) for Disaster Emergency Management and Post-Disaster Food Insecurity.

"It is suspected that this bureaucratic procedure has slowed the distribution of CBP to residents," explained Khudori.

In the old procedure, said Khudori, regional heads can apply for the use of CBP to Perum Bulog at branch offices or regional offices. Applications accompanied by the number of victims, determination of the status of the disaster emergency, and assignment to the regional social service for distribution. Then the Minister of Social Affairs asked the Bulog to issue a CBP. Each regent or mayor has the right to issue a CBP of 100 tons a year while the governor is 200 tons per year. Regions can also ask for additional use of CBP.

Meanwhile, in the new procedure, regional heads and ministers or heads of institutions submit the distribution of CPP to the Head of Badanas. The submission letter is accompanied by the number of recipients, local government organizations that distribute, and the ability to bear the distribution costs. Also accompanied by the determination of the status of the disaster emergency according to the authority. Badanas analyzed and then assigned Bulog.

Apart from Bulog, Bapanas can also assign other Food SOEs. Before assigning the distribution of CPP to Bulog or Food SOEs in certain amounts, according to Article 11 Paragraph 2 of the Bapanas Regulation No. 30/2023, Bapanas must obtain approval from the General Meeting of Shareholders (GMS) or the Minister of SOEs.

According to Khudori, during the tsunami in December 2004 and the Yogyakarta earthquake in May 2006, it could be an example of the government's alertness in distributing aid. At that time, regional heads, both regents, mayors, and governors distributed CBP during the disaster. The important thing, he said, was that some noted carefully.

"After the situation allowed, the local government and Bulog compiled a report. That's when administrative needs are completed. The point is, reflecting on the Aceh tsunami incident and the earthquake in Yogyakarta, obeying procedures must of course be. However, the speed of handling by adjusting the situation in the field must be the main choice," he explained.

Not only the long bureaucracy, he also highlighted uneven food reserves. In fact, food reserves are very important during emergencies such as disasters.

"Once again, disasters in three provinces in Sumatra this time provide important lessons, how urgent the existence of local government food reserves is. Whatever the amount, a week, 10 days or a month of consumption needs," said Khudori.

When an emergency situation due to a disaster occurs and the distribution of goods is hampered, reserves in the regions can be moved immediately. If only the distribution of airways is possible, rice reserves in villages or sub-districts can at least prevent the threat of hunger in the short term. If the situation improves, regional and central rice reserves will strengthen.

The delay in the distribution of aid, both food, beverages and other logistics, could lead to looting but also threaten the safety of residents.

"Don't let it happen because you obey the procedure, there are lives," he said.