Overcoming the Impact of COVID-19, the Ministry of Social Affairs Has Distributed 6,700 Aid Packages

BEKASI (April 4th 2020) - The Directorate General of Social Rehabilitation of the Ministry of Social Affairs today distributed 6,700 basic food assistance packages for 2 clusters of 5 social rehabilitation clusters, namely the cluster of children and people with disabilities. This distribution was carried out at the direction of the Indonesian Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari P. Batubara to accelerate the distribution of basic food aid as part of the Ministry of Social Affairs' efforts to overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of 12,350 food packages will be distributed to 5 social rehabilitation clusters. As many as 6,000 packages for the children cluster, 700 packages for the people with disabilities, 5,200 packages for the elderly cluster, 150 packages for the victims of drug abuse cluster and 300 packages for the social disabled and human trafficking victims cluster.

The distribution of basic food assistance is carried out with the support of the Directorate General of Social Protection and Security, particularly the Directorate of Social Protection for Natural Disaster Victims (PSKBA).

The Director General of Social Rehabilitation, Harry Hikmat, at the meeting of the preparation for the distribution of basic food assistance (3/4/20), has said that he will distribute basic food assistance in the form of side dishes, children's meals and ready-to-eat meals to community-owned Social Welfare Institutions (LKS) / Social Institutions throughout Jabodetabek. "This assistance will be distributed to social institutions / LKS throughout Jabodetabek in five clusters, namely the children cluster, the disability cluster, the victims of drug abuse cluster, the elderly cluster, the social disabled and human trafficking victims," ​​said the Director General of Social Rehabilitation.

On Saturday (04/04), as many as 6,000 packages of basic necessities have been distributed to 276 child LKS and 700 packages of basic necessities distributed to 22 LKS with disabilities in Jabodetabek. Assistance was received directly by LKS representatives from each cluster.

The distribution of basic food assistance was carried out at Balai Budhi Dharma Bekasi involving the Directorate of Child Social Rehabilitation, Directorate of Social Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities, representatives of the Child Social Rehabilitation Center / Workshop, representatives of the Child Social Worker Service Unit (Sakti Peksos), TRC, and LKSA. This assistance aims to make children and people with disabilities get additional nutritional intake and increase their immune system to ward off COVID-19.

The distribution of basic food aid runs smoothly and still pays attention to social and physical distancing. "PPE is used by the officers and still social and physical distancing is applied," the Director General of Social Rehabilitation messages. This is due to the condition of Indonesia being exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic so it is necessary to avoid crowds.