Jakarta – The Aceh provincial government has formally requested assistance from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and UNICEF in responding to widespread flooding and landslides that have impacted the region, signaling the severity of the ongoing disaster. Indonesia’s Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian, stated Monday that he will review the request, though he had yet to be briefed on the specific details of the aid sought. the move comes as damage assessments continue across Sumatra, with initial reports indicating over 139,000 homes have been damaged in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra [[2]].
JAKARTA — Indonesia’s Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian, said Monday he would review a request from the Aceh province government for assistance from two United Nations agencies in responding to recent flooding and landslides.
The Aceh provincial government has formally requested aid from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UNICEF to help manage the ongoing disaster relief efforts. The move underscores the scale of the devastation and the need for international support.
“We will study it,” Karnavian said briefly at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on December 15, 2025.
The minister admitted he had not yet been briefed on the specifics of the aid request submitted by Aceh to the two UN organizations.
Aceh Province Writes to Two UN Agencies, Requesting Assistance with Disaster Relief
Karnavian indicated he would first need to understand the nature of the assistance being sought. “I don’t yet know what form the assistance will take,” he said.
According to a government spokesperson, Aceh officials believe the situation requires significant support from both the central government and the international community. Muhammad MTA, a spokesperson for the Aceh provincial government, noted the complexity of the crisis.
“Specifically, the Aceh provincial government has officially requested the involvement of several international agencies, considering the experience from the 2004 tsunami, such as UNDP and UNICEF,” Muhammad MTA said in a written statement Sunday, December 14, 2025.
Flooding in Sumatra Damages 139,485 Homes in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra
MTA added that approximately 77 organizations, including local, national, and international NGOs, with a combined 1,960 volunteers, are currently on the ground in Aceh. He expects that number to grow as the relief effort continues.
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“The presence of these agencies and volunteers is expected to further strengthen emergency response and recovery efforts,” MTA said.
“On behalf of the people of Aceh and the victims, the Governor extends his sincere gratitude for their goodwill and contributions to the recovery of Aceh,” he added.
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