Indonesia Accelerates $8.3M Aid for 44,767 Homes Damaged in NTT Quake
Indonesia's disaster agency begins disbursing aid in October for 44,767 homes damaged by the magnitude 7.7 earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara.
KUPANG, Indonesia — The Indonesian government is fast-tracking a significant financial relief package for residents in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) left homeless by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck the region in August. Lieutenant General Suharyanto, head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), confirmed that funds for home repairs and temporary housing will begin disbursement this October.
As of September 27, 2026, the agency has verified 44,767 damaged residential units across seven districts on Flores Island, including Manggarai, East Manggarai, West Manggarai, Ende, Ngada, Sikka, and East Flores. The damage spans categories ranging from light to heavy, leaving thousands of families in urgent need of shelter as the transition from emergency response to reconstruction begins.
Tiered Financial Assistance
The BNPB has outlined a multi-pillar support system to expedite recovery. Residents with lightly damaged homes are eligible for a stimulus grant of approximately 15 million IDR ($920), while those with moderate damage will receive 30 million IDR ($1,840). For those whose homes were destroyed, the government is providing temporary shelters (huntara) and permanent housing (huntap).
For displaced residents opting out of temporary shelters, the government is offering a monthly living allowance of 600,000 IDR ($37) for three months. "I have ordered that the funds be disbursed as quickly as possible this October to those entitled to receive them," said Suharyanto on Thursday, October 1, 2026.
The financial support mechanism requires recipients to use the funds strictly for repairs. Upon verification, survivors receive 75 percent of the grant in cash. The remaining 25 percent is released only after the submission of invoices or receipts for building materials.
Housing Reconstruction Progress
Construction of temporary shelters is already underway. As of September 29, 2026, 124 units have been fully completed, while 861 units are currently under construction with various levels of progress. The temporary shelters are standardized at 4x6 meters, featuring a bedroom and private sanitation facilities, while permanent houses are designed as 36-square-meter units with two bedrooms.
The agency is offering three reconstruction models to suit local needs: communal relocation complexes, in-situ reconstruction on original plots, or independent rebuilding on alternative land owned by the residents. As of September 28, 2026, the government has identified 4,008 primary recipients for housing aid, with a total estimated budget of 136.27 billion IDR ($8.36 million).
Following the disaster on August 16, the seven affected districts have now formally concluded their emergency response status. Officials emphasized that this shift marks the start of a long-term recovery phase aimed at restoring community infrastructure and individual livelihoods across the earthquake-stricken region.
