Jakarta (ANTARA) – Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman assured that food supplies for earthquake survivors in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) are more than sufficient, with available rice stocks enough to sustain evacuees for up to a year.
“Our national rice stocks stand at 5.2 million metric tons, with 39,000 metric tons in NTT, so our supplies are abundant and sufficient for up to a year,” the minister said while inspecting food assistance distribution for earthquake survivors in Manggarai District, NTT, on Wednesday.
According to a statement confirmed on Thursday, he reassured the public not to worry about food shortages, emphasizing that the government can dispatch rice supplies immediately whenever needed without waiting for lengthy administrative procedures.
Government estimates show that around 34,600 evacuees require approximately 300 metric tons of rice per month. With current stocks in NTT, the evacuees’ rice supplies are fully guaranteed for up to a year.
He noted that ensuring food availability aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive for the government to act swiftly to prevent disaster-affected communities from facing food shortages.
To bolster on-the-ground response efforts, the government has set aside 200 metric tons of rice specifically for Manggarai District.
The assistance is part of government support for four earthquake-affected districts in NTT, with total rice aid reaching 5,386 metric tons. This comprises both disaster relief and regular food aid worth approximately Rp75.4 billion (around US$4.24 million).
Amran urged local governments not to hesitate in requesting food supplies, stating that warehouses will remain open around the clock so distribution can take place immediately whenever aid is needed.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck NTT on Saturday morning (August 15). The death toll reached 71 as of Wednesday (August 19), according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
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Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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