Novali Panji Nugroho, Jakarta – Members of the Indonesian diaspora in Singapore have voiced frustration over what they describe as restrictive rules on delivering aid to victims of the devastating Sumatra floods.
One diaspora member, Fika, said humanitarian assistance sent from abroad is treated as taxable imported goods unless the government declares the disaster a national emergency.
The concern was raised in a post on her Instagram account, @ffawzia07. "If donations from the diaspora are sent while the Sumatra floods have not been declared a national disaster, the aid will be taxed," she wrote on Thursday, December 11, 2025.
Fika said treating relief goods as imports is unreasonable given the scale of the catastrophe, which has claimed nearly 1,000 lives. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that, as of Wednesday, December 10, the death toll had reached 969.
She added that the policy has discouraged diaspora-led initiatives, leaving many overseas Indonesians feeling they can currently help only through cash donations.
Embassy response
Tempo contacted the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore for clarification. Ambassador Suryo Pratomo said questions regarding import taxes fall under the authority of Indonesia's Customs Office.
However, he acknowledged that the embassy has also received numerous inquiries from diaspora members seeking to send relief supplies.
He said the embassy cannot facilitate shipments of goods to Sumatra, nor does it have the authority to urge the central government to designate the floods as a national disaster – a step that would allow foreign aid to enter more easily.
For now, Suryo recommended that diaspora members channel assistance through organizations already authorized to receive aid.
"Cash donations can be sent to the Indonesian Red Cross," he said on Thursday. He added that the embassy is not familiar with procedures for sending relief goods from abroad because "until now, there has been no aid from outside Indonesia for the flash flood disaster."
Government and customs positions
Director of Communication and User Guidance at the Directorate General of Customs, Nirwala Dwi Heryanto, said he could not yet provide an explanation regarding the taxation issue, noting that he needed to coordinate internally.
"I will confirm with the relevant offices," he told Tempo on Thursday.
Earlier, the central government said it had not opened the door for foreign aid to support the response in Sumatra. State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi stated that Indonesia is capable of handling the crisis in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra without external assistance.
"We believe the government is still able to manage all the problems we face," Prasetyo said at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.
He added that several countries had expressed interest in providing assistance, but the government maintains it has adequate food and fuel reserves to support emergency operations.
"This may require unconventional methods," he said, noting that authorities are exploring air drops due to the conditions on the ground.
– Hendrik Yaputra contributed to the writing of this article.