Indonesian sub-district head's viral outburst highlights disaster aid distribution issues

A sub-district head in East Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, has gone viral for his emotional outburst regarding the distribution of disaster relief following a significant earthquake. Agustinus Supratman, head of Lamba Leda Utara sub-district, expressed deep frustration and a feeling of being pressured by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) over the aid allocation process.

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I feel so pressured, so burdened. I have to divide it among 11 villages, but that's not how it's done. All the villages are protesting to me now, everyone is asking where the aid is. Meanwhile, the aid is scarce, but it has to be divided among many people. How is that possible?

Supratman revealed that he was instructed to distribute the available aid equally across 11 villages within his jurisdiction. However, the amount of aid was insufficient to meet the needs of the 21,171 residents affected by the disaster. "I feel so pressured, so burdened. I have to divide it among 11 villages, but that's not how it's done," Supratman stated in a viral video, his voice raised in distress. He lamented the protests from all villages and the constant inquiries about the aid, highlighting the impossibility of satisfying everyone with the limited resources.

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You say the aid is plentiful, yet all there is is this. I don't like being pressured to divide it equally among 11 villages when the amount is small. I'm stressed, reports to the ministry and calls from everywhere keep coming in. I can't take it anymore.

He specifically contested claims that the aid received was substantial, emphasizing that the reality on the ground was far from adequate. Supratman stressed his discomfort with being forced to divide the aid equally without considering the varying levels of damage and the number of genuinely needy individuals in each village. "I don't like being pressured to divide it equally among 11 villages when the amount is small. I'm stressed, reports to the ministry and calls from everywhere keep coming in. I can't take it anymore," he asserted.

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We are managing these communities together. There should be no pressure. I appreciate every aid that comes, but it must be fair and targeted. Otherwise, those who need it most might not receive it.

Supratman pleaded for a transparent and needs-based distribution system, urging against pressure or commands that force an equal, rather than equitable, allocation. He emphasized the importance of fairness and targeting aid to those who need it most. Meanwhile, the head of BNPB, Lt. Gen. Suharyanto, acknowledged that there are still shortfalls in providing basic necessities and addressing post-disaster challenges, stating that the government is working to fulfill the needs of displaced populations and rectify existing shortcomings.

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We continue to work hard and fast to meet the basic needs of the community in the shelters and to fix the shortcomings that occur in the field.