Agriculture Minister Dispatches Food Aid to NTT, Stresses Rapid Humanitarian Response

Indonesian Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman personally oversaw the dispatch of food aid trucks to communities in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) affected by recent disasters. Speaking in Labuan Bajo, Sulaiman stressed the urgency of the mission, stating that humanitarian concerns must take precedence over bureaucratic procedures.

"This is humanitarian. Whoever sees a problem, report it, we will execute it quickly," Sulaiman declared, emphasizing that in disaster situations, there is no room for debates about authority or procedures that could delay aid. The Ministry of Agriculture, along with other national and regional agencies, is acting on direct orders from President Prabowo Subianto to swiftly address issues on the ground.

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This is humanitarian. Whoever sees a problem, report it, we will execute it quickly.

Sulaiman recounted an instance where, upon witnessing the needs firsthand, he immediately increased a local government's rice request from 20 tons to 200 tons. He explained that such on-the-spot decisions are crucial, as formal processes could take days or weeks. "Take the rice from the warehouse first, process the permits later. This is an emergency. I will sign later," he stated, prioritizing immediate relief.

Based on field calculations, the region's approximately 34,000 refugees require about 300 tons of rice monthly. With current local stocks at around 39,000 tons, Sulaiman assured that the rice supply is secure, even if disaster recovery efforts extend significantly. The minister's directive underscores a commitment to rapid response and direct action in critical situations.

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Take the rice from the warehouse first, process the permits later. This is an emergency. I will sign later.