Sultan Abdurrahman, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has said the government is open to receiving public and private donations to support disaster response efforts in Sumatra, stressing that any assistance must follow clear and transparent distribution mechanisms.
Speaking at a disaster management meeting in Aceh Tamiang, Aceh, on Thursday, January 1, 2026, Prabowo said he had received reports from Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf – widely known as Mualem – that several parties had expressed interest in providing aid.
"I have been informed by the governor, and I will discuss with other officials how the mechanism should work if there are sincere parties who wish to help," Prabowo said, as quoted by the Presidential Secretariat.
The president emphasized that the government would not turn away assistance, provided its purpose and distribution process are clearly defined. "As human beings, would we reject help? Of course not – as long as everything is clear," he said.
Prabowo also welcomed contributions from the Indonesian diaspora, both at home and abroad, encouraging them to formally notify the central government so that aid could be coordinated and distributed effectively to affected areas.
"For example, if members of the Acehnese diaspora feel compelled to help their home region, please do so. We will facilitate the distribution," said the former defense minister.
He added that regional administrations could open dedicated donation accounts for post-disaster recovery. Donations could be sent directly, whether from within Indonesia or overseas, as long as procedures were followed. "We will not reject assistance. What matters is that the mechanism and accountability are clear," he said.
However, Prabowo stressed that aid must be given in good faith, noting past experiences where assistance came with expectations of repayment.
"It must be sincere. We have been helped before, but there were also cases where people later demanded something in return," he said.
Meanwhile, Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that floods and landslides across Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra had claimed at least 1,154 lives as of Wednesday evening, December 31, 2025.
Aceh recorded the highest death toll, with 527 fatalities, followed by North Sumatra with 365 deaths and West Sumatra with 262.
BNPB also confirmed that 165 people remain missing, including 31 in Aceh, 60 in North Sumatra, and 74 in West Sumatra. Two additional missing persons were reported in West Sumatra.
"The figures remain dynamic as search and rescue operations continue," said Abdul Muhari, head of BNPB's Data, Information, and Disaster Communication Center, during a press briefing on Wednesday.
– Hendrik Yaputra contributed to the writing of this article.