observerid.com

Jakarta, IO – The government is intensifying cross-sector coordination to ensure that food needs for people affected by floods and landslides in North Sumatra are met quickly and efficiently.

During a coordination meeting held at Polbangtan on Sunday, December 7, 2025, the National Food Agency (Bapanas), the Ministry of Agriculture, the North Sumatra Provincial Government, and local city/regency governments agreed to enforce emergency response efforts, which include data collection on agricultural damage and accelerated food aid distribution to affected residents.

The meeting emphasized that North Sumatra’s provincial and regional governments are ready to begin large-scale assessments of damaged infrastructure, in line with instructions from Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman. The assessment covers identifying damaged farmland, seeds, and agricultural machinery. The complete data will serve as the basis for medium-term recovery once the emergency phase ends.

At the same time, speeding up the distribution of disaster food aid (Bencal) remains a top priority. The provincial government and local administrations will work closely with Bapanas and state logistics agency Bulog to ensure food reaches evacuation centers and villages that remain isolated due to damaged roads and bridges.

I Gusti Ketut Astawa, Deputy for Food Availability and Stabilization at Bapanas, confirmed that the central government has responded quickly to all requests for food assistance from the region. “We have approved requests for around 6,438 tons of rice from the provincial and local governments in North Sumatra. We urge local governments and BPBD to accelerate distribution in cooperation with Bulog so that the aid can be received immediately by the community,” he said.

In addition to Bulog rice, the meeting also agreed on technical distribution of additional food supplies collected through donation driven by the Ministry of Agriculture and Bapanas. These supplies will be transported using the Navy ship KRI Radjiman and handed over to North Sumatra’s BPBD. The ship is scheduled to sail from Teluk Bayur to Belawan Port this week to speed up deliveries to the hardest-hit areas. (eka)

Published Date: December 9, 2025