Quinawaty Pasaribu

Indonesia has rejected humanitarian assistance offered by China and Iran after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck East Nusa Tenggara, saying domestic resources are sufficient. However, many independently displaced residents in Sikka Regency had received no government food or water aid by the sixth day, while damaged roads, delayed data collection, limited volunteers, shortages of supplies and difficult transport slowed distribution. The disaster had killed 72 people, injured 900, displaced more than 82,000 and damaged tens of thousands of homes and public facilities. Humanitarian experts say the government should improve outreach to isolated evacuees, prepare for worsening water shortages linked to El Niño and consider accepting foreign assistance to support recovery and reconstruction.

Mamberamo Raya in Papua has among Indonesia’s highest levels of child stunting and malnutrition, yet it has received almost none of the government’s Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) kitchens. In Anggreso village, residents face severe poverty, high food prices, limited electricity and clean water, low immunization coverage, malaria and inadequate access to doctors and maternity care. Many women give birth without medical assistance, while children with malnutrition and other health problems receive only sporadic care from visiting nurses. A planned MBG kitchen in Burmeso remains unfinished after construction delays and rising transport costs, and officials do not know when it will operate. Residents and local health authorities say a centralized meal-distribution model is poorly suited to Papua’s dispersed communities and should instead use local food, local women cooks, cash assistance and nutrition education. National data show that most MBG kitchens are concentrated in Java, where stunting rates are lower, while remote and high-stunting areas receive minimal coverage. Health experts and civil society groups call for better targeting toward pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, infants and toddlers, stronger logistics and oversight, and an integrated approach rather than treating MBG as a standalone solution to stunting.

The tax authority’s plan to involve Babinsa and Bhabinkamtibmas in monitoring taxpayer compliance prompted criticism over legal grounds, potential intimidation and perceived militarization of civilian tax processes. Experts argue the directive oversteps existing regulations and risks undermining voluntary compliance, while others view the involvement as legally defensible for information gathering. Analysts warn that unclear authority boundaries and psychological pressure on taxpayers could erode trust. The policy emerges amid efforts to expand the tax base after revenue shortfalls, with the finance minister emphasizing data-driven compliance measures to meet upcoming tax targets.

A large fire at the Jatiwaringin landfill in Tangerang persisted for more than a week, forcing at least 185 residents to evacuate due to hazardous smoke and poor air quality. Emergency crews used ground operations and four water‑bombing helicopters to extinguish the blaze, though several hotspots remained difficult to reach. Health authorities reported a rise in respiratory illnesses among affected residents. Environmental group Walhi described the incident as an ecological disaster caused by systemic negligence in waste management, citing methane accumulation and inadequate landfill practices. Officials pledged a full investigation and broader evaluation of landfill compliance nationwide while urging residents to avoid the affected radius due to ongoing toxic emissions.