Post-disaster Social Assistance Needs in Sumatra More than Rp2 Trillion

JAKARTA - The need for social assistance (bansos) budget for the acceleration of post-disaster rehabilitation and reconstruction in Aceh Province, North Sumatra, West Sumatra reaches Rp. 2 trillion.

Social Minister Saifullah Yusuf in a coordination meeting for the Acceleration of Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Post-Sumatra Disaster at the DPR building said that of the total needs, approximately Rp. 655 billion had been available through a special ceiling, while the rest was submitted through additional budgets.

"The funds that are ready to be used, among others, for the compensation of heirs, life insurance, housing assistance, and social and economic recovery for affected people," he said, Wednesday, February 18.

According to him, assistance to the heirs of the deceased victims has been disbursed in the amount of more than Rp. 14 billion to 990 heirs with a compensation value of Rp. 15 million per victim.

For life insurance, the Ministry of Social Affairs has disbursed more than Rp. 20 billion and will continue to expand the distribution according to the data that has been verified.

Meanwhile, housing assistance worth more than Rp98 billion has been ready to be distributed to more than 32 thousand beneficiary families in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

Saifullah emphasized that his party was ready to distribute all the assistance after the data validation process was completed and continued to coordinate with BNPB and the local government.

"29 of the 53 districts and cities affected by disasters have been validated and are ready to receive the distribution of social assistance for rehabilitation and reconstruction. Validation is carried out together with BNPB and the establishment of the minutes of the meeting by the regional head, as well as validation by the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) before the aid is disbursed," he said.