Ministry of Social Affairs Distributes 554 Basic Food Assistance for People with Disabilities in Tangerang

TANGERANG (June 26, 2020) – Director of Social Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Affairs Eva Rahmi Kasim, distributed 554 basic food assistance packages for persons with disabilities (PD) affected by COVID-19 in Tangerang City, Banten.

Of the 554 food packages, 22 packages were given to Difabel Mandiri Indonesia Foundation (YDMI) Social Welfare Institution (LKS), 60 packages to the Movement for the Deaf Indonesia (Gerkatin), 375 packages to Lentera Edelweis PLWHA (People With HIV/AIDS) LKS , and the Tangerang City Social Office with a total of 9 packages.

The basic food assistance was symbolically handed over by Eva Kasim accompanied by the Head of the Tangerang Social Office, Suli Rosadi and the Head of the Sub-Directorate of Social Rehabilitation for Persons with Sensory Disabilities, Erniyanto at the Tangerang Social Office.

"This basic food assistance comes from the budget refocusing of the Directorate of Social Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities, as a form of responsibility to carry out the mandate of the President and the Indonesian Minister of Social Affairs, to ensure that the state is present to help people affected by COVID-19, especially in Tangerang. It is hoped that the social assistance can be utilized as well as possible and can meet the basic needs of people affected by COVID-19," explained Eva.

Eva also hopes that LKS PD can cooperate in collecting data on persons with disabilities by reporting the list of members through the Tangerang Social Office. This data is important as a basis for planning government programs/policies, especially for persons with disabilities.

Furthermore, Eva advised people with disabilities and the Tangerang people to continue to comply with and implement health protocols even though the Large-Scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) period due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Tangerang will end soon.

The head of the Tangerang Social Office, Suli Rosadi, expressed his gratitude to the residents of Tangerang, especially people with disabilities, for the attention and concern of the Ministry of Social Affairs through the social assistance that is currently being distributed.
 
"The social assistance that has been received from the Ministry of Social Affairs is around 89.000, which have been distributed to residents affected by COVID-19 in 7 sub-districts in the Tangerang area. The government wants all social assistance to be distributed, thank you for the presence of the Director and her staff, hopefully it can bring benefits to Tangerang residents in general, the recipients of social assistance in particular," said Suli.

Representatives of recipients of assistance, Erna from YDMI and Sarmaida Sitanggang from Lentera Edelweiss admitted that they are very grateful and thankful to the Ministry of Social Affairs for the assistance provided, which is very useful to meet the basic needs of their families during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The food packages provided were instant noodles, sardine biscuits, cooking oil, canned milk, rice, and bath soap.