Aceh Governor Mualem Admits Not Knowing the Letter Asking for UNDP-UNICEF Assistance

Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf while giving information to reporters, accompanied by the Aceh Government Spokesperson Muhammad MTA, in Banda Aceh, Tuesday (16/12/2025). ANTARA/Rahmat Fajri

BANDA ACEH - Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf or Mualem admitted that he did not know about the letter requesting assistance in handling the Aceh disaster to two institutions under the United Nations, namely the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

"I don't know anything, in fact it's wrong, not to the UN, to the NGOs in Aceh," said Mualem as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, December 16.

The statement was made by Mualem after symbolically receiving humanitarian assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) which was handed over by the Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos) Saifullah Yusuf, at the Aceh Governor's office, in Banda Aceh.

Regarding Mualem's statement, Aceh Provincial Government Spokesperson Muhammad MTA explained that there was a misunderstanding, the Aceh government's letter was not to the UN, but to UNDP and UNICEF, and they were in Indonesia.

"There is a misunderstanding, it is for institutions in Indonesia, not for the UN, but what is built is as if the Governor sent a letter to the UN, it is an existing institution. Because they also have programs in Aceh," said Muhammad MTA.

He explained that the Aceh disaster was still at the provincial level, the central government in this case carried out supervision and became a priority.

Because this is the provincial disaster status, he continued, the Aceh Government considers it necessary to take important steps, one of which is inviting several institutions that are concerned with disaster management, including post-disaster recovery programs.

Seeing the experience during the Aceh tsunami disaster, UNDP, IOM UNICEF, they are strategic partners of the Indonesian Government, and there are still many partnership programs throughout Indonesia.

Like UNICEF, he said, they still have a child protection assistance program in Aceh until April.

Therefore, the Aceh Government, which is the main pillar of disaster management, is important to do and invite them to remain in Aceh, especially the experience of disasters that they handled before.

"We hope that they will still have programs, especially post-disaster recovery to be able to communicate with the Indonesian Government, to still have that program, UNDP is like that," he said.

UNDP, he said, had been involved in handling the tsunami and was still in Indonesia. It was hoped that after the disaster they could help the government, both the central government which carried out supervision with the priority program for handling disasters in Aceh, and the Aceh Government, could enter to help.

But what was built later, according to him, was as if the Governor of Aceh had bypassed President Prabowo by sending a letter directly to the United Nations, so that this issue created pros and cons.

He admitted that there were still shortcomings, both from the Aceh Government and the Indonesian Government. But be assured, he said, with this major disaster the government thinks thoroughly about how to handle extra. Considering this is an extraordinary event that has never happened, besides the tsunami.

Then, he continued, the Presidential Communication Team had also asked about this and after it was explained, they finally understood, and welcomed positively that it was a normal thing in gathering support.

"Moreover, they (UNDP - UNICEF) are strategic partners of the government in Indonesia's development program, assisting children," said Muhammad MTA.

Previously, the Aceh government asked two international institutions under the United Nations to help deal with the aftermath of flash floods and landslides in Tanah Rencong.

According to a written statement from the United Nations Information Center (UNIC) in Jakarta, Monday, the Indonesian NDP has received an official request from Aceh on December 14, 2025.

Currently, UNDP is conducting a review to provide the best support that can be given to national parties involved in handling, as well as affected communities in line with UNDP's mandate on early recovery.

Then also conveyed that UNICEF had received a letter from the Aceh Provincial Government (Pemprov) and was currently reviewing the areas of support requested through coordination with the relevant authorities.

This was done to identify priority needs, where UNICEF can contribute to the government-led response efforts.