Basic Food for the Red Zone

PROBOLINGGO (1 June 2020) - A total of 666 packages will be distributed to provinces labeled as red zones based on data from the national task force handling COVID-19. In line with the significant increase in positive cases in East Java Province, the "Mahatmiya" Social Rehabilitation Center for People with Visual Disabilities massively distributed basic food assistance to the region.

Departing from the Bali "Mahatmiya" Visual Disabilities Center, four employees are tasked with distributing basic food social assistance to 13 distribution points, namely Banyuwangi Regency, Jember, Bondowoso and Probolinggo, Malang Regency, Malang City, Batu City, Blitar City, Blitar Regency, Tulungagung Regency, Trenggalek Regency and Kediri City.

The first day, 90 packages were distributed to the Banyuwangi Regency, 30 packages to the Jember Regency, 25 packages to Bondowoso Regency and 32 packages to Probolinggo City.

Taking a night trip, finally the team arrived at the Social Office for Women's Empowerment and Family Planning of Banyuwangi Regency at 02.00 WIB. When crossing the sea, the waves are very calm, as if they bless the journey. After unwinding for about four hours, in the morning the team was greeted by the PPKB Head Section of the Banyuwangi Regency Social Service, Hasmai.

Collaborating with five people with visual disabilities, he chatted with the team who explained the purpose of their visit. While taking care of the administration, several people were seen starting to take out the basic food from containers. 90 basic food packages were delivered to the people with visual disabilities affected by COVID-19.

The symbolic handover was done immediately by Hasmai. He welcomed the distribution carried out by the Ministry of Social Affairs through the Bali  "Mahatmiya" Visual Disabilities Center. According to Hasmai, people with visual disabilities will be helped by the basic food. "Persons with disabilities have been living just barely by the results of massage work. Then they are being affected by COVID-19 which affects their work because there is no interaction between people," said Hasmai.

He also added that during the pandemic, the basic food was very beneficial for them. "We are very grateful for the social assistance provided. It will be able to continue their life journey in facing difficult situations like now," he said.

Meanwhile, the recipient of the basic food, Karno Dewo, found it very helpful. "Alhamdulillah, I got this basic food, thank you the Ministry of Social Affairs for being there for us," concluded Karno.

The team's journey continues to the Jember Regency. It took approximately 2 hours 30 minutes until the team arrived at the Jember Educational and Orphanage Park Foundation (YTPA). The team was warmly received by the Principal of the SLB-A TPA Jember School, Arida Choirun Nisa. The recipient of the social assistance has been waiting for a long time in a corner of the school. The team cannot predict the travel situation, sometimes it goes smoothly but the traffic jams cannot be avoided.

"Representing the Head of the Foundation, I express my gratitude for the social assistance in the form of the basic food. Hopefully this can be useful for children with visual disabilities," said Nisa.

As many as 30 packages of basic food were distributed. Five of them were handed over directly to the beneficiaries who were present at the time. The rest will be distributed through assistants or taken by the family.

"We will communicate with their families later, whether they will take the package by themselves or we will deliver it to them," said Nisa.

One of the assistance recipients, Zumar Fajar Rafi, expressed his hope that the Corona will be over quickly and he could carry out his usual activities.

After the handover, the team went straight to the third distribution point, Bondowoso Regency. The recipients of the assistance have gathered but have not implemented the distance guard protocol and some are not wearing masks. Armed with the masks that had been prepared, the team distributed them to social assistance recipients who did not wear masks. Represented by the Secretary of the Social Service for Women Empowerment and Family Planning, Syaifudin Syuhri, was handed over 25 packages of basic food assistance for people with visual disabilities.

Dressed in plain black t-shirt, Syaifudin seemed enthusiastic about handing over the basic food assistance to the people with visual disabilities. "I really appreciate the Ministry of Social Affairs' concern for them. During this pandemic they lost their livelihoods as massage service providers. The basic food will be very meaningful to them," said the bespectacled man.

The recipient of social assistance, Sutikawati, shared a similar sentiment. She expressed her gratitude to the government for the distribution of the basic food. "I can't work anymore for the last three months. The customers who usually come now are afraid (to get the massage)," said the woman with the black mask.

The team's journey continues to the last point of distribution, Probolinggo Regency. Through winding roads, the basic food transporting container trucks run into problems. The brake drum was overheated! Carrying almost eight tons of basic food along with roads that require brakes makes the brake drum 'give up' on its task. Finally the team had to pull over to the side of the road, with the roof of a fragile bamboo building in the middle of the jungle. About an hour to cool the drum and rest, the team continues their journey.

The night atmosphere shrouded the Probolinggo Regency when the team got there. Through the Head of Relinjamsos Division of Social and Protection of Women and Children Office of Probolinggo Regency, Heny Ananto distributed 32 basic food packages containing rice, Regal biscuits, cooking oil, instant noodles, sardines, eggs, liquid bath soap and laundry soap worth Rp300.000 per package.

Ananto emphasized the assistance recipients to use the basic food assistance properly. "I hope the basic food can help your daily needs in difficult times like now. The recipients have to give the thumbprints as the sign of receiving the basic food packages," he concluded.