Indonesian Diaspora Say Aid for Sumatra Flood Victims Is Being Taxed

Members of Indonesia’s diaspora have expressed frustration after learning that humanitarian supplies sent from overseas to flood-hit areas of Sumatra may be subject to import taxes, potentially discouraging international assistance at a time when the death toll continues to rise.

Indonesians living in Singapore say relief items shipped from abroad are being treated as commercial imports unless the government formally declares the disaster a national emergency — a status that has not yet been granted despite the scale of destruction.

“It makes no sense”

One member of the diaspora, Fika, shared her concerns on social media after attempting to organise aid for victims of the floods and landslides.

“If donations come from overseas and the Sumatra floods are not classified as a national disaster, the aid will be taxed,” she wrote on Instagram. “That means humanitarian assistance is treated like imported goods.”

She described the policy as illogical, noting that nearly 1,000 people have died according to Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency, which recorded 969 fatalities as of 10 December.

Fika said the tax requirement has effectively limited overseas Indonesians to sending cash donations only, rather than urgently needed supplies such as food, blankets, and medicine.

Embassy unable to intervene

Indonesia’s ambassador to Singapore, Suryo Pratomo, confirmed that the issue has been raised repeatedly by diaspora groups, but said the embassy has little authority to resolve it.

He told Tempo that decisions regarding disaster status and customs exemptions fall under central government and customs authorities in Jakarta.

“We cannot facilitate the shipment of aid,” he said. “Our only advice at this stage is to send monetary donations, for example through the Indonesian Red Cross.”

The ambassador added that the embassy had not handled any foreign aid shipments related to the Sumatra floods so far, and acknowledged that procedures for sending goods from abroad remained unclear.

Customs response awaited

Indonesia’s Customs and Excise Directorate said it was still reviewing the matter. A spokesperson said officials needed to coordinate internally before clarifying whether humanitarian aid from the diaspora should be taxed.

Government insists it can cope alone

The central government has so far declined to open formal channels for international assistance. Minister of State Secretariat Prasetyo Hadi said earlier this month that Indonesia remains capable of managing the disaster response independently.

“We believe the government is still able to handle all the challenges we are facing,” he said, adding that food and fuel reserves were sufficient.

While acknowledging offers of help from other countries, he said emergency logistics could still be delivered through alternative methods, including aerial drops, if required.

A growing disconnect

For members of the Indonesian diaspora, however, the situation has highlighted what they see as a disconnect between government policy and humanitarian realities on the ground.

“As Indonesians abroad, we want to help our own people,” Fika wrote. “But the system is making it harder, not easier.”

As floodwaters recede in parts of Sumatra, pressure is mounting on the government to clarify whether overseas aid will be welcomed, or continue to be treated as taxable imports.