NTT earthquake: Indonesia steps up food aid, farm recovery

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3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman has pledged continued support to meet emergency food needs and accelerate agricultural recovery for communities affected by the earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

Speaking at a hearing with Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) in Jakarta on Tuesday (September 1), Minister Amran, who also heads the National Food Agency (Bapanas), assured lawmakers that ensuring food supplies for disaster-affected communities remains a national priority.

“The Agriculture Ministry is committed to continuing to support the government’s efforts to ensure that the food needs of disaster-affected communities are met,” Amran said.

Amran noted that government intervention extends beyond immediate food distribution to include the restoration of agricultural production so that local economies can recover quickly. Although assessments of damage to cropland on Flores Island are still underway, cross-agency coordination is being carried out to support affected farming communities.

“May the people facing this disaster be given strength, fortitude, and protection, and may the post-disaster management and recovery process proceed quickly and smoothly,” Amran added, expressing his condolences to the victims.

Meanwhile, the National Logistics Agency (Bulog) said emergency food assistance had reached affected communities across seven regencies in NTT, namely Ende, Sikka, Manggarai, East Manggarai, Nagekeo, Ngada, and West Manggarai.

Bulog President Director Ahmad Rizal Ramdhani said in Jakarta on Tuesday evening that logistics operations had delivered 1,321.55 tons of rice and 7,000 liters of cooking oil to the region as of September 1, 2026.

The rice reserves distributed included 881.98 tons from the Emergency Food Reserve (CBP), 101.8 tons from local government reserves, and 472.98 tons from national food assistance programs.

Bulog confirmed that cooking oil distribution in the designated areas had reached 100 percent of the target.