Banda Aceh, Aceh, Dec. 25 -- The Indonesian government will begin disbursing a monthly transitional housing allowance to thousands of residents displaced by deadly floods and landslides in Sumatra, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said Thursday, as authorities accelerate recovery efforts following one of the region's worst disasters this year.

The allowance, set at Rp600,000 (about US$38) per household per month, will be paid to disaster survivors who are currently staying with relatives or friends rather than in government-built temporary shelters, BNPB chief Suharyanto told reporters.

"Starting tomorrow, the government will disburse a transitional housing allowance of Rp600,000 per household per month for affected residents who...