Jakarta. Indonesia needs over Rp 2 trillion or around $118.5 million to provide the much-needed social assistance for victims of the catastrophic Sumatra flood, according to government estimates.

In late November 2025, areas across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra witnessed deadly landslides and floods. Work is underway to speed up the recovery, be it the physical infrastructure or the victims’ socio-economic conditions. Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf said that Indonesia might need to spend more to provide enough compensation money. Yusuf said that only Rp 655 billion were available for use as of today, not even half of the Rp 2 trillion that is needed. The government is now working on allocating more budget to this social assistance.

“The money that is already at our disposal will be used to compensate the bereaved families, among others. A portion of the money will go into life insurance, house renovations, as well as socio-economic recovery,” Saifullah said in a meeting with the lawmakers in Jakarta on Wednesday.

To date, the government has rolled out over Rp 14 billion in compensation money for the victims’ heirs, each receiving around Rp 15 million. The government has disbursed Rp 20 billion in life assurance. The Social Affairs Ministry has earmarked Rp 98 billion to provide furniture aid to over 32,000 affected families in the three aforementioned provinces.

Beyond social aid, an additional Rp 10.65 trillion (nearly $631 million) in regional transfers will soon head to the affected areas, according to Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa. This money will go directly to the sub-national governments. Its transfer is expected to take place in three phases by April. 

“[We will transfer] 40% of that money in February, and another 30% the following month. The remaining 30% [will be disbursed] in April,” Purbaya said.

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