Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Minister of Social Affairs Saifullah Yusuf confirmed that emergency disaster aid distribution will proceed as scheduled ahead of the regional elections on 27 November 2024.

“In emergency situations, aid is allowed. But under normal conditions, the Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a circular to halt aid distribution until after the elections,” he said on Monday (18/11/2024)

Minister Saifullah clarified that only aid funded by regional budgets (APBD) is temporarily paused, while aid from the national budget (APBN) remains uninterrupted.

“APBN-funded programs like the Family Hope Program and other social assistance are in the fourth-quarter phase and being distributed. The total is around Rp 18 trillion,” he added.

The Ministry of Home Affairs previously instructed regional governments to delay APBD-funded aid to prevent misuse during the elections. However, exceptions apply to disaster-affected regions like East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), according to Deputy Minister Bima Arya Sugiarto.

“This temporary suspension addresses concerns about potential misuse of aid for political advantage during the campaign,” Bima explained.

(mg/ndt/hn/nm)