Jakarta, Jan. 5 -- Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian ensured that rice stocks for flood- and landslide-affected provinces in Sumatra are safe for the next six months.

He stated that he has personally confirmed the availability of rice stocks with state-run logistics firm Bulog.

"I personally checked the warehouse in Lhokseumawe. For Lhokseumawe, Bireuen, and North Aceh areas, there are 28,000 tons available. That is actually sufficient for nine months," he said in a statement in Jakarta on Monday.

Nevertheless, he noted that the primary challenge is distributing the rice to communities in the disaster-hit areas, particularly those that remain difficult to access.

Karnavian also reaffirmed the government's commitment to qui...