POULTRYINDONESIA, Jakarta — The Ministry of Agriculture (Kementan) has again dispatched aid for flood victims in Aceh by sea, with support from the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL). This shipment is the second wave, following the earlier humanitarian assistance that was flown using a Hercules aircraft and arrived in Aceh the previous day.
In his remarks, Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman expressed his appreciation to the Indonesian Armed Forces, especially the Chief of Naval Staff (KASAL), for their full support in the distribution of logistical aid.
Amran also extended his gratitude to partner organizations that have worked hand in hand to provide assistance to those affected by the natural disaster.
“We express our deepest gratitude to the Navy Chief and ministry partners who have delivered this aid. This is a form of responsibility, and we are overseeing this assistance until it reaches its destination,” he said to the media while supervising the shipment at Tanjung Priok on Friday (5/12).
A total of 207 trucks carrying various essential goods were dispatched, consisting of instant food, cooking oil, milk, and other forms of aid. All of this assistance is the result of joint efforts by Kementan’s strategic partners, business owners, and Ministry of Agriculture employees.
“We bear full responsibility. Nothing must be misused—this is the collective savings for the afterlife of many people; we must be trustworthy,” he emphasized.
Ministry personnel have also been stationed in Aceh to ensure all items are properly received by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). The handover process is carried out with photographic evidence and official handover documents.
In addition to contributions from partners and ministry employees, the government is also distributing 44,000 tons of rice and 6,000 tons of cooking oil as aid.
Kementan ensures that food stock in Aceh and other affected areas in Sumatra remains sufficient. Aceh reportedly has a rice surplus of 871 thousand tons, though challenges arise at the field level due to disrupted road access at several points.
Amran also stated that during emergency situations, Kementan ensures aid distribution is carried out swiftly. When the Deputy Governor of Aceh urgently requested cooking oil and rice, Kementan immediately instructed the state logistics agency Bulog to release the goods without waiting for formal paperwork.
“What matters is responsibility. The documents can follow later. This is an emergency,” he explained.
A similar step was taken when Kementan teams purchased essential goods for communities in North Sumatra worth around Rp3 billion, as many shops were closed due to security conditions.
Aid from business partners and Ministry of Agriculture personnel has so far reached around Rp75 billion in goods and funds. All assistance is directly supervised until it reaches those in need.
Amran emphasized that national rice stocks currently stand at 3.7 million tons, the highest since Indonesia’s independence. Unlike previous years that relied heavily on imports, this year’s supply comes entirely from domestic production.
“Food is the top priority. The President monitors daily whether the aid has arrived and how our brothers and sisters there are faring,” he said.
Kementan has prepared aid up to three times the required amount to ensure smooth distribution and prevent any chaos on the ground.
