Receiving Basic Food Aid from Ministry of Social Affairs, Cilincing Residents be Grateful

JAKARTA (April 21st 2020) - A smile spreads from the lips of an elderly man named Iceh when he is visited by the Dharma Wanita Advisor of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Grace Batubara. That afternoon he was at his house in RT 07 / RW 4, Semper Barat Sub-District, Cilincing District, North Jakarta, Monday (20/04).

He expressed his gratitude for the arrival of basic food packages from the Ministry of Social Affairs.

"Alhamdulillah, I am very happy. There are oil, sardines, masks, and others. This really helps me, who is currently having a lonely job," said Iceh.

Hendi, a vegetable trader from Semper Barat Urban Village, opened in front of his house a basic food package. The package he received directly from Grace Batubara who also represents the Cabinet Solidarity Action Organization (OASE) of the Onward Indonesia Cabinet.

"Thank you Mrs. Iriana Joko Widodo and staff for their assistance to me. This is troubling for my family. And hopefully this (pandemic) will end soon," said Hendi.

As a vegetable trader, he admitted that the existence of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) made him reduce trading hours so that his income was reduced.

Since April 7th 2020, the Ministry of Social Affairs has distributed social assistance for the Ministry of Social Affairs's basic needs worth IDR 200,000 with a target of 300,000 packages. This assistance is specifically aimed at poor and vulnerable people affected by COVID-19, mainly families of People Under Monitoring (ODP) and Patients Under Supervision (PDP), other informal workers.

"Today is the thirteen day we distribute the Ministry of Social Affairs's basic foods assistance. Hopefully it helps the community. Helping them to stay at home as recommended by the government so that the chain of COVID-19 spread can be cut," said Grace after handing over the basic food packages to the residents' homes.

As for the basic food assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs which was given on this occasion, 3,500 packages for Semper Barat Village and 1,500 packages for residents of Cilincing Village.

In the Regulation of the Minister of Health Number 9 of 2020 concerning PSBB Guidelines for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19, PSBB is a limitation on certain activities of residents in an area suspected of being infected with COVID-19 to prevent the possibility of spreading.

"In accordance with the direction of the Minister of Social Affairs Juliari P. Batubara, the task of the Ministry of Social Affairs during the PSBB which has been regulated in the Minister of Health Regulation is to distribute basic food assistance to poor and vulnerable families affected by COVID-19," said the mother of two children.

Therefore, he continued, this basic food assistance for DKI Jakarta residents is part of the Ministry of Social Affairs's support for the operational plan to accelerate the handling of COVID-19 stipulated by the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19.

The Head of the Semper Barat Urban Village, Benhard, said that the food packages will be sent to their respective homes in RW 04, RW 05, and RW 016 by officers from the sub-district so that people can still apply physical distancing or keep a distance.

Meanwhile, the head of RW 04 of Semper Barat Sub-district, Muhammad Rodji, said that some of the recipients of the assistance were suggestions from the community so that residents who really needed them could have their basic needs met.