Ministry of Social Affairs Distributes Assistance for Flood-Affected Residents

JAKARTA (January 1st 2020) - The Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs sent basic needs assistance to residents affected by flooding in DKI Jakarta and West Bandung Regency, as well as areas with potential for flooding in Banten Province.

"We will gradually send basic needs assistance to the affected areas, as well as activate the field public kitchen and alert Tagana personnel to help evacuate residents," said Social Minister Juliari P. Batubara in Jakarta, Wednesday (1/1)

The Minister of Social Affairs explained that as President Joko Widodo's direction, when anytime disaster occurred the government must immediately step down to fulfill the basic needs of the residents and ensure they are handled properly.

He said, during disaster, the task of the Ministry of Social Affairs is to activate a system that has been prepared for integrated natural disaster management. The system in question is the National Cluster coordinated by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) where the Ministry of Social Affairs is in charge of the Protection and Evacuation Cluster and logistics cluster.

"The focus of handling is the evacuation of refugees to safe places, as well as vulnerable groups consisting of the elderly, children, people with disabilities, and other special groups," he said.

When a disaster occurs and the local government has established an emergency response status, the Ministry of Social Affairs mobilizes all of the Natural Disaster Management Potential. Namely the deployment of TAGANA personnel and TAGANA Friends, KSB, Disaster Preparedness Vehicles, supplies, evacuation equipment, communication tools and systems, and cooperation between government agencies and NGOs.

The Minister of Social Affairs, Ari explained that natural disaster assistance for DKI Jakarta has been sent from the Ministry of Social Affairs Central Warehouse in Bekasi to the DKI Jakarta Provincial Social Service. The total assistance amounting to IDR 750 million consists of 2,000 packages of ready-to-eat food assistance, 1,800 packages of children's food assistance, 30 thousand noodles packages, 500 rolled tents, 8,000 packages of family equipment, 200 sheets of blankets and 100 packages of clothing.

"Public kitchens for DKI Jakarta have been established under the coordination of the DKI Jakarta Social Service. Likewise, public kitchens for flood-affected residents in West Bandung Regency and Bekasi Regency have been running starting this morning with the support of Tagana and the local Social Service," he said.

Public kitchens in West Bandung Regency are centered in Cipeudeuy, Padalarang District to fulfill 3 evacuation points. Public kitchens, with 200 volunteers, meet the food needs of 300 refugees.

"Continued logistical support to meet the needs of refugees for the next 3 days will continue to be encouraged in the form of rice and side dishes," explained the Minister.

Meanwhile, natural disaster assistance for West Java Province worth IDR 1 billion. The assistance consisted of 1,800 children's food packages, 30 thousand noodles packages, 3 multipurpose tents, 460 rolled tents, 230 velbeds, 230 mattresses, 1 set of Public Field Kitchen, 920 family equipment packages, 40 clothing packages and 50 Tagana equipment packages.

"Furthermore, later we will add the assistance of cleaning equipment to help residents and Tagana in cleaning the house and the surrounding environment," said the Minister of Social Affairs.

Meanwhile, natural disaster assistance for areas with a potential for flooding, namely Banten Province, is worth Rp.680 million. The assistance consisted of 1,800 packages of children's food, 30 thousand noodles packages, 400 rolled tents, 200 sheets of mattresses, 800 packages of family equipment and 25 packages of Tagana supplies.