Yogyakarta. Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X on Monday handed over living expenses assistance to students from North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh whose families were affected by recent natural disasters. The aid was symbolically presented during a ceremony at the palace hall in Yogyakarta.

The assistance is intended to help students continue their education in Yogyakarta without financial disruption following disasters in their home regions. Known as Indonesia’s “city of education,” Yogyakarta hosts one of the country’s highest concentrations of universities and academies.

“This initiative is part of Yogyakarta’s long tradition of supporting students from disaster-affected areas,” the sultan said, stressing that the provincial government seeks to ensure students’ education is not interrupted.

He added that the practice dates back to the leadership of his father, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX, and has been sustained across generations.

Regional Secretary Ni Made Dwipanti Indrayanti said the living-cost assistance was distributed to 1,296 students enrolled at 52 public and private universities in Yogyakarta. Beneficiary data were verified jointly with the respective universities.

Each student will receive Rp 300,000 ($18) per month for six months. The program is supported by multiple partners, including foundations, community groups, Baznas, and the banking sector.

Beyond living expenses, universities in Yogyakarta have also committed to providing tuition relief for affected students, ranging from full fee waivers to discounts of 25 to 50 percent.