Ensuring that COVID-19 Impact Management Reaches Vulnerable Groups

JAKARTA (April 25, 2020) - Minister of Social Affairs Juliari P Batubara ensured that the government's efforts to deal with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic were not only aimed at the affected general public, but also reaching vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities.

Yesterday (24/4), President launched 4,763 basic food assistance to elderly. Today the Minister of Social Affairs launched a basic food assistance for 7,072 people with disabilities. A total of 11,835 food packages were distributed to the Elderly and People with Disabilities affected by COVID-19.

To meet the basic needs of vulnerable groups, President of Indonesia Joko Widodo has prepared social assistance in accordance with the policy related to the prohibition of homecoming to break the chain of COVID-19. The social assistance is in the form of basic food assistance for Jabodetabek area and direct cash assistance for outside Jabodetabek.

"We must also pay attention to our brothers and sisters who have special needs and are vulnerable to COVID-19 such as the elderly and people with disabilities. So we have to take a really good care of them," said the Minister, accompanied by the Director General of Social Rehabilitation, Harry Hikmat .

The launch of basic food assistance for people with disabilities was carried out at the Frobel Montessori Extraordinary School Trustees Foundation, East Jakarta. The Minister of Social Affairs gave symbolically the basic food assistance for the Jabodetabek area to the Head of Social Services.

Not only that, the Minister of Social Affairs also gave symbolically the basic food assistance to 6 students of the Frobel Montessori Extraordinary School Trustees Foundation, East Jakarta.

Distribution of basic food assistance for the elderly was done yesterday (24/4) at the Center for Family Assistance (Pusaka) As-Salam, Johar Baru, North Jakarta. "The COVID-19 pandemic has a major impact on elderly. So, through this social assistance we make sure in the month of Ramadan the elderly get good and nutritious food ingredients to avoid the COVID-19 pandemic," said the Minister.

The basic food assistance worth of Rp. 300 thousand consists of rice, cooking oil, soy sauce, chili sauce, instant noodles, corned beef, sardines, milk, tea bags and soap. Social Aid will be distributed 2 times in 1 month, so that the total of basic food assistance is Rp. 600 thousand / family / month. Basic food assistance will be distributed for 3 months starting April 2020.

Basic food assistance for the elderly are channelled through 94 Elderly Social Welfare Institutions (LKS-LU). While the basic food assistance for people with disabilities is distributed through 20 Disability Social Welfare Institutions (LKS-PD), 13 Social Organizations with Disabilities (OPD) and 8 districts / cities.

Ministry of Social Affairs cooperates with PT. Pos Indonesia in direct distribution to beneficiaries. "This assistance will be given directly to beneficiaries by involving the fleet of PT. Pos Indonesia to make sure it arrives at beneficiary homes," said Director General of Social Rehabilitation.

Head of the Extraordinary School Foundation Frobel Montessori Foundation, Sri Sularmi expressed her gratitude in front of the media. "We are very grateful for all the attention of the government. It is very helpful for our children. Thank you very much," he said.

The Ministry of Social Affairs will also immediately provide direct cash assistance to 146,181 elderly and 132,895 people with disabilities outside Jabodetabek.

Furthermore, people who face obstacles with the distribution of social assistance related to the possibility of misdirected, extortion, and so on can send messages to the email address: bansoscovid19@kemsos.go.id, or whatsapp number 0811-10-222-10. This channel does not provide self-registration to get social assistance.

Bureau of Public Relations

Ministry of Social Affairs