Ministry of Social Affairs Distributes 1,675 Basic Food Packages for COVID-19 Affected Communities

JAKARTA (April 8, 2020) - The Ministry of Social Affairs distributed basic food assistance in two locations in DKI Jakarta. Basic food packages and ready-to-eat food assistance were handed over to people affected by COVID-19 in two locations in Jakarta.

The total volume of assistance distributed was 1,675 packages of basic food packages and ready-to-eat food. Symbolically, the assistance was distributed by the Advisor of the Dharma Wanita Persatuan (DWP) of the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs Grace P. Batubara in the Tebet and Kemang areas, South Jakarta.

Grace said this assistance was a form of attention from the Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs in line with the #KemensosHADIR slogan. "So here, the Directorate General of Social Protection and Security together with the DWP of the Ministry of Social Affairs as well as The Era Solidarity Action Organization (Oase) of The Onward Indonesia Cabinet preparing social assistance for people affected by COVID-19. The total assistance we are distributing at this time is 1,675 packages of basic necessities and ready-to-eat food," Grace said in the Kebon Baru Village area, Tebet District, South Jakarta, Wednesday (08/04/2020).

Basic food packages and ready-to-eat food packages were distributed in two locations. The first is for people in RT / RW. 009 / 002, Kebon Baru Village, Tebet District, South Jakarta. Together with the group, here, the wife of the Minister of Social Affairs Juliari P. Batubara handed over 653 basic food packages and ready-to-eat food.

Then the group moved to the second location, namely in the Jalan Kemang IV area, South Jakarta. Here, Grace Batubara handed over 1,022 basic food packages and ready-to-eat food. Grace also seemed to participate in preparing ready-to-eat food in rice boxes. In distributing this assistance, the Ministry of Social Affairs involves local governments down to the Rukun Warga (RW) and Rukun Tetangga (RT) levels. "The distribution mechanism we work with is the Head of the Social Office, urban village, RT / RW. The distribution of aid is based on the data they provide," said the mother of two.

The caring action with the tagline #WorkingTogether Against COVID-9 targets residents who are directly affected by the outbreak of COVID-19. The assistance distributed today is also part of direct food assistance totaling 200,000 food packages and 200,000 ready-to-eat food packages.

The distribution of food packages is planned to be carried out in stages to people under monitoring (ODP) and patients under treatment (PDP), and informal workers such as motorcycle taxi drivers, laborers, street vendors, daily workers, taxi drivers, and online transportation service.

The target areas for assistance are especially areas for DKI Jakarta residents that are indeed red zones. "Those who happen to be in DKI Jakarta will be prioritized first," Grace said.

In this implementation, said Grace, the Ministry of Social Affairs also involved social workers and Tagana. Grace ensured, in the implementation of the delivery of assistance paying attention to health protocols. "First of all, we have done a rapid test and Alhamdulillah, all the results are negative. So, all those who work here are all in good health, none of them are infected with COVID-19," she said.

Other procedures that are also considered are having to use masks, then gloves, then also PPE at the time of distribution to the field and with social distancing.

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs RI