Mendes: Village Funds May Be Used For Emergency

JAKARTA - Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Mendes PDT) Yandri Susanto ensured that village funds could be used for emergency conditions, such as natural disasters.

"Village funds for emergencies may be used," said Yandri while reviewing the evacuation sites for victims of natural disasters in Lembur Sawah Village, Pabuaran District, Sukabumi Regency, West Java, reported by ANTARA, Monday, December 23.

He ensured that this did not violate the regulations, although it was not written in the Regulation of the Minister of Villages (Permendes) regarding Priority for the Use of Village Funds in 2025.

Yandri invited the relevant village head to take advantage of village funds in carrying out first aid during a disaster. He said he did not want the absence of regulations to actually hinder the use of the funds disbursed to ease the burden on the people.

Seven villages in Pabaruan District are known to be located in disaster-prone locations, so land relocation must be carried out and permanent housing for residents.

Therefore, Mendes Yandri contacted several related parties such as the Head of BNPB Suharyanto and Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf to ensure the smooth relocation of land, minimize conflicts in the process, and meet the basic needs of all residents involved.

"We want all collaborations whether the ministers are related, heads of agencies, TNI, Polri, regents, deputy regents, governors, deputy governors, council members are all struggling, including third parties such as banks," said Yandri.

Mendes Yandri and Wamendes A Riza Patria together with high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Villages PDT handed over 1,300 food packages for 297 families of victims affected by landslides. He also saw the condition of the tents to the public kitchen and talked directly with the refugees.

Before leaving the location, Mendes Yandri confirmed that he would continue to oversee the relocation process, and asked the refugees to be patient and strong in the disaster that occurred. Not only the Kemendes PDT, he continued, President Prabowo Subianto and all ranks in the Red and White Cabinet will also make it a priority.