Indonesia Yet to Open Door to Foreign Aid for NTT Earthquake

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia maintains that the country can handle the earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) using its own national capabilities, rather than relying on foreign aid. The spokesperson for the Ministry, Yvonne Mewengkang, made this assertion during a media briefing in Jakarta on Thursday, August 20, 2026. She emphasized that the current focus of the government is to ensure that the needs of the affected communities are met through the national capacity and resources available.

Despite this stance, Indonesia acknowledges the condolences, attention, and solidarity expressed by friendly countries in response to the earthquake disaster in NTT. Yvonne Mewengkang expressed that these gestures mean a great deal to the nation during this challenging period.

On Saturday, August 15, 2026, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 struck the island of Flores. The quake occurred at a depth of 15 kilometers, approximately 30 kilometers northeast of Mbay in Nagekeo Regency. According to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), as of Friday, August 21, 2026, at 4:00 PM local time, the death toll from the earthquake has reached 83 people. Additionally, 986 people have been reported injured, and 110,785 individuals have been displaced by the disaster.

Several friendly countries, including China, have expressed concerns over the NTT earthquake and offered assistance. On Monday, August 17, 2026, Lin Jian, the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced China's commitment to providing aid based on Indonesia's needs. Lin Jian conveyed deep condolences to the victims and expressed sincere sympathy to the families of the deceased and the injured during a daily press conference.