Overcoming COVID-19 Impacts, Ministry of Social Affairs Distributes 6,700 Basic Food Aid Packages

BEKASI (4 April 2020) - The Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation of the Ministry of Social Affairs today distributes 6,700 food packages to 2 from 5 social rehabilitation clusters, namely children and disabled people. This distribution was carried out at the direction of the Indonesian Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari P. Batubara to accelerate the distribution of food aid as an effort by the Ministry of Social Affairs to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of 12,350 food packages will be distributed to 5 social rehabilitation clusters: 6,000 packages for child cluster, 700 packages for disability cluster, 5,200 packages for elderly cluster, 150 packages for drug abuse victims cluster, and 300 packages for tuna sosial (people unable to live a normal life according to religious, social, and law norms) and victims of trafficking cluster.

Distribution of food aid is carried out with the support of the Directorate General of Social Protection and Security, specifically the Directorate of Social Protection for Natural Disasters Victims (PSKBA).

Director General of Social Rehabilitation, Harry Hikmat, at a preparatory meeting for the distribution of basic food aid (3/4/20) said that the food packages consisted of side dishes, children's food and ready-to-eat food. The food packages would be distributed to the Social Welfare Institution (LKS)/Social Institution owned by the community in Jabodetabek "This aid will be distributed to social institutions/LKS throughout Jabodetabek in five clusters, namely child cluster, disability cluster, drug abuse victims cluster, elderly cluster, and tuna sosial and victims of trafficking cluster," said Harry.

On Saturday (04/04), 6,000 food packages were distributed to 276 LKS from child cluster and 700 food packages were distributed to 22 LKS from disability cluster throughout Jabodetabek. The aid was received directly by the LKS representatives from each cluster.

The distribution of food assistance was carried out at Budhi Dharma Social Rehabilitation Center Bekasi by involving the Directorate of Social Rehabilitation of Children, the Directorate of Social Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities, representatives of Children Social Rehabilitation Centers, representatives of the Social Worker for Children Unit (Sakti Peksos), Quick ResponseTeam (TRC), and Children Social Welfare Institution (LKSA). This aid aims to help children and people with disabilities get additional nutritional intake and increase their immunity to ward off COVID-19.

The distribution of food assistance ran smoothly by implementing physical distancing. "The officers were using PPE and we implement physical distancing," said Director General of Social Rehabilitation. It is necessary to avoid crowds in time of COVID-19 pandemic.

Bureau of Public Relations

Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs