Jakarta, Dec. 20 -- North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution said Saturday that 30 tons of rice donated by a humanitarian organization from the United Arab Emirates will be distributed to flood victims through Indonesia's Islamic organization Muhammadiyah.

"This is not government-to-government assistance. The aid comes from a non-governmental organization," Nasution said.

He explained that because the assistance did not originate from a foreign government, the Medan city administration decided to entrust its distribution to Muhammadiyah, citing the group's extensive grassroots network and long experience in humanitarian and disaster-response operations.

Nasution also confirmed that the aid would not be returned to its country of origin, a...