Rapid Response to Central Java Floods, Ministry of Social Affairs Establishes 3 Public Kitchens and Distributes Logistics Assistance to 5 Regions

SEMARANG (January 2, 2023) - The Ministry of Social Affairs responded quickly to the floods in Semarang City and surrounding areas. At the direction of Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini, Acting. Director General of Social Protection and Security Robben Rico visited several flood points to ensure that food assistance met the needs of residents.

During his visit to several severe flooding points in the Tlogosari area, Sunday (1/1) yesterday, Robben stated that the Ministry of Social Affairs distributed a number of assistance and set up a public kitchen.

"To fulfill the need for food, we set up three public kitchens in RW 03 Tlogosari, Genuk Subdistrict, and North Semarang Subdistrict yard. All three can produce 2,000 servings of packaged rice. We make sure the food aid is sufficient," said Robben.

The assistance provided was in the form of kitchen equipment and public kitchens, as well as 2 units of rubber boats. The rubber boats were immediately used to help evacuate residents, and distribute food.

The Ministry of Social Affairs through the Directorate of Social Protection for Victims of Natural Disasters (PSKBA) in synergy with the Integrated Center "Prof. Dr. Soeharso" in Surakarta and the "Antasena" Center in Magelang sent ready-to-eat food aid, women's and children's needs, as well as mattresses and blankets which were directly received by the Genuksari Sub-District Head, Sunday (1/1).

The Ministry of Social Affairs' assistance for the flood disaster in Central Java Province which total Rp1,604,663,700 targeting 5 regions, namely Semarang City, Batang Regency, Pekalongan Regency, Kendal Regency and Kudus Regency.

Assistance was sent from five centers, namely the "Prof. Dr. Soeharso" Integrated Center in Surakarta, the "Antasena" Center in Magelang, the "Kartini" Integrated Center in Temanggung, the "Satria" Center in Baturraden, the "Margo Laras" Center in Pati, and from the Yogyakarta Social Welfare Education and Training Center (BBPPKS).

For Semarang City, assistance was sent from the "Prof. Dr. Soeharso" Integrated Center in Surakarta in the form of 2,000 packages of ready-to-eat food, 800 packages of children's food, 150 mattresses, 200 blankets, 100 packages of kidsware, 200 packages of baby clothes, and 300 boxes of sanitary napkins.

Then, assistance from the "Antasena" Center in Magelang in the form of ready-to-eat food 2,000 packages, children's food 800 packages, mattresses 100 sheets, blankets 200 sheets, kidsware 100 packages, and adult clothing 200 packages.

From the Regional Warehouse in Bekasi for Semarang City, assistance in the form of rubber boats with 3 units of engines.

For Batang Regency, assistance was sent from the "Kartini" Integrated Center Warehouse in Temanggung in the form of 2,000 packages of ready-to-eat food, 800 packages of children's food, 100 mattresses, 200 blankets and 100 packages of kidsware.

From the Regional Warehouse in Bekasi for Batang Regency, assistance in the form of rubber boats with 2 units of engines.

For Pekalongan City, assistance from the "Satria" Warehouse Center in Baturraden in the form of 800 packages of ready-to-eat food, 400 packages of children's food, 100 sheets of mattresses, 200 sheets of blankets and 100 packages of kidsware.

Meanwhile, assistance for Kendal Regency was sent from the Yogyakarta BBPPKS Warehouse in the form of ready-to-eat food 1,000 packages, children's food 400 packages, mattresses 100 sheets, blankets 100 sheets, sanitary napkins 300 packages and kidsware 30 packages.

Meanwhile, for Kudus Regency, assistance was sent from the "Margo Laras" Warehouse Center in Pati in the form of 800 packages of ready-to-eat food, 200 packages of children's food, 100 sheets of mattresses, 100 sheets of blankets, adult clothing and 50 packages of kidsware.

Robben's visit was well responded by Plt. Mayor of Semarang Hevearita G. Rahayu. "I thank you for the assistance provided by the Ministry of Social Affairs. Our residents are greatly helped," she said.

The Ministry of Social Affairs has been present with Tagana and Pelopor Perdamaian volunteers, since day one, helping to evacuate residents and distribute food to affected communities in Semarang and surrounding areas.

Not only residential areas, floods also inundated a number of protocol roads in Semarang City. In addition, similar floods also inundated a number of regencies around Semarang City, such as Batang, Pekalongan, Kendal and Kudus Regencies. The average water level reached the waist of an adult.

As is known, Semarang City has been hit by severe flooding since Saturday (31/12/2022), after the region was hit by rain for almost eight hours. As a result of the high-intensity rain, most areas in Semarang City were inundated like a river.

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs